Hippeastrum, also known as the amaryllis, is a popular bulbous plant that is often grown indoors. The plant is native to Central and South America, but it has been cultivated around the world for centuries. Hippeastrum plants are relatively easy to grow, and they make for beautiful, long-lasting houseplants.
Is it easy to grow Hippeastrum plant? Since it's a bulbs plant, it's easy to take care of it. The main thing is to water it and give it some sunlight. The small difficulties are about its blooming. It blooms around spring or summer, and the flowers only last for a few weeks.
How big can it be? The leaves of the plant are about 30-50 cm in length, and the flower stem can be higher. The plant blooms in the spring and summer.
How fast is the growth? The reason for the common name of Amaryllis is that, like its close relative the genus Hippeastrum, it was once placed in the genus Amaryllis. Both genera are in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. However, recent DNA studies have shown that while the two genera are closely related, they are not actually the same, and so they have been moved to different genera.
| Plant Form | Grassy Onion |
| Family | Amarillidaceae |
| Origin | Tropical America |
How long is the lifespan? So, with the proper care, a Hippeastrum bulb can exist for many years.
What is the ideal temperature? Sometimes, depending on the variety, the temperature can be higher by a few degrees.
What about the humidity? If you live in an area with high humidity, you may want to consider planting your Hippeastrum bulbs in a pot with a drainage hole. This will help to ensure that the bulb does not rot.
What amount of light this plant needed? Eventually, most Hippeastrum varieties will flower best if they experience about 12 hours of light per day. This can be provided by placing the plant near a bright south- or west-facing window. If you don't have a suitable window, you can supplement the natural light with grow lights. Be sure to set the lights to turn off automatically after 12 hours to avoid over-illuminating your plant. When the flower buds begin to form, give the plant slightly less light to prevent the buds from falling off.
What is good soil for Hippeastrum? Because it is a bulb plant, it is necessary to have good drainage. The soil should be a mixture of 2 parts garden soil, 2 parts humus, and 1 part coarse sand or perlite. Spruce bark can also be used. The pot should have a hole in the bottom for drainage.
How much I must water Hippeastrum? Although the plant is drought tolerant, it is best to water moderately. Water every 3-6 days during growth and flowering. Cut back on watering in autumn. Water only occasionally when the plant is dormant. However, when the flower arrow is 10-12 cm high, increase watering.
About fertilizer. If you want your Hippeastrum plant to thrive, you need to fertilize it every 3-4 weeks with a liquid fertilizer. You'll know it's time to fertilize when you see flower arrows appearing. Top dressing should be stopped in autumn when the leaves start to turn yellow.
How to reproduce Hippeastrum? Since Hippeastrum is a bulb-plant, its children are also bulb-plants and are planted in small pots. The size of the pot is increased as the bulb grows. These plants usually bloom for 3-4 years. They can be propagated by seeds, for example after artificial pollination. The seeds are planted in a mixture of peat and sand and the seedlings appear after 2-3 weeks. After 3-4 years, large plants are formed.
Why Hippeastrum won't bloom? Unless the plant is a miniature, it takes at least one year for a newly planted bulb to bloom. Some large bulbs can give a second arrow for the season. Flowering lasts 2-3 weeks. The condition of flowering is the formation of at least four leaves in the previous season.
How much I must water Hippeastrum? Eventually, the bulb of your Hippeastrum will become too large for its current pot. You'll need to transplant it into a larger one. The best time to do this is after the plant has flowered, but before the autumn, when it goes into dormancy. When you transplant, make sure that only half of the bulb is above the surface of the soil.
How to care the plant? The plant needs a rest period to form a flower bud. In autumn, watering is reduced, and after the leaves have yellowed, the plant is stopped from watering and placed for 2-3 months in a dry, warm, and unintended place.
What is the challenge when caring Hippeastrum plant? known that it is unpretentious, but the diseases and pests affect it. So, the main pests are: thrips, green aphids, mealybugs, spider mites and cyclamen mites. You can fight them with insecticides. The plant is also affected by viral diseases: mosaic, downy mildew, rust. The plant can be affected by the daffodil fly (the bulb rots), a red burn (red longitudinal spots on the leaves). To combat downy mildew, you need to treat the plant with a fungicide, in all other cases it is destroyed.
Are Hippeastrum poisonous? Although considered as ornamental plants, and they are popular gifts during the holiday season, it is important to take care when handling them. All parts of the plant are poisonous, and if ingested, can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you experience any of these symptoms after coming in contact with the plant, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
