Crinum

Family. Amaryllidaceae.

Origin. South Africa, tropical Asia, South America.

Description. The genus "Crinum" includes about 180 species of deciduous or evergreen bulbous perennial herbaceous plants, which are often grown as houseplants. The bulbs are large - up to 15 cm in diameter. The leaves are up to 120 cm long, sword-shaped, dark green, collected in a basal rosette, emerging one from another. Some species have dark burgundy and even purple leaves. Peduncles are vertical, appearing from the center of the basal rosette, naked. Large, spectacular, funnel-shaped flowers with a diameter of 7 - 13 cm are collected at the top of the peduncles, similar to lilies, in a very wide range of colors - white, pink, greenish, often fragrant. Some recuts have petals with dark, contrasting stripes along the entire length, other varieties have flowers with a darker or lighter center.

Height. Flower stalks often reach more than 1 m in height.

When blooms 

July August.

Transplant 

In spring, the pot should be selected so that its diameter exceeds the size of the bulb by 4 - 6 cm. The bulbs are planted so that the upper part is above the substrate. Crinum should not be replanted unnecessarily, since after replanting it can stop flowering for 1 - 2 years. After planting, the soil around the plant is compacted slightly so that there are no air pockets.

Reproduction

Propagated by separating daughter bulblets during transplantation. Divide adult families that have reached the age of 3-5 years. Seeds sown in spring. They germinate easily, but specimens obtained in this way bloom only at the age of 3-4 years.

Diseases and pests 

Crinum does not bloom in the absence of light. If there is excess moisture, the leaves turn yellow. 

The most common harmful insects on plants are false scale insects, mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects.

How to feed

During the period of active growth, feed the crinum 2 times a month with regular liquid fertilizer with a high potassium content. The flower likes organic fertilizers. In autumn and winter, stop feeding.

Watering

Watering begins in the spring, when the first shoots appear. During the period of active growth, watering should be plentiful, the soil should not dry out. Excess water accumulated in the pan must be drained. After flowering, in deciduous species, watering is gradually reduced to a minimum, without allowing the earthen clod to dry out. Evergreen crinums are also watered moderately. 

Growing conditions - lighting

Evergreen species require a brightly lit location with direct sunlight in the morning and evening all year round. Insufficient lighting seriously damages the health of the flower. In winter, the degree of illumination does not matter for deciduous species.

Spraying

Leaves can be sprayed periodically to avoid pest invasion. 

Note

All parts of the plant are toxic, especially to cats. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling crinum. Lives in culture for many years with proper care.