Lachenalia
Family. Liliaceae.
Origin. South Africa.
Description. The large genus "Lachenalia", which includes about 90 species of bulbous, perennial herbaceous plants with large strap-shaped, glossy green or silver-gray leaves 15 - 20 centimeters long and about 8 centimeters wide. In autumn and winter, plants throw out tall leafless peduncles containing many tubular flowers in a very diverse range of colors - white, yellow, orange, pink, salmon. There are two-color and even three-color varieties.
Height. The bushes are compact and reach a height of only 30 centimeters in adulthood.
Planting and care at home
Temperature conditions
Lachenalia prefers fairly cool conditions at temperatures from 15 to 18° C. In the spring and summer, when the plant produces buds, the temperature is increased to 18 - 20° C. After flowering, an even cooler dormant period follows with a temperature of about 13° C.
Lighting
The flower prefers a brightly lit place with reflected sun rays. In the morning and evening it can receive direct sunlight for several hours a day. In autumn and winter, additional lighting with fluorescent lamps is possible.
Care
This demanding plant is not suitable for beginners; it requires a certain temperature regime, and if there is a lack of light, it does not bloom. In spring and summer it is advisable to keep it in the fresh air.
Substrate
Prefers very well-drained soil with a high content of leaf humus, peat and pine bark. To improve drainage, add coarse river sand or perlite.
Feeding
During the period of active growth, the plant needs the use of complex fertilizer twice a month; it responds very well to the use of fertilizer with a low nitrogen content.
Flowering time
Lachenalia is very valuable because it blooms in the fall. Its flowering lasts all winter until spring. On each peduncle, flowers open sequentially from bottom to top, over a period of 3 weeks.
Air humidity
If the room temperature becomes too high, the plant leaves can be sprayed. Also, to increase humidity, use a room humidifier or place the pot on a tray with wet pebbles. Along with high air humidity, good air circulation around the plant should be ensured.
Soil moisture
Immediately after planting, begin to water a little, after some time the first shoots appear. After the beginning of growth and until full flowering, the soil is allowed to dry out halfway before each subsequent watering. After the leaves begin to turn yellow and die, watering is stopped almost completely.
Transplant
Sometimes grown as an annual plant, in which case repotting is not required. The root system tolerates somewhat cramped conditions, but repotting should be done periodically, in the spring, into larger pots with sufficiently large drainage holes.
Reproduction
Propagated by separating daughter bulbs during transplantation. Seeds are sown in autumn in loose soil and covered with a thin layer of sand. The first shoots appear within 5 weeks.
Pests and diseases
Excessively warm conditions and lack of light lead to the stems stretching, the bush becomes unsightly. Flowering of such specimens will be less abundant. Stagnant water can cause root rot.
The most common pests are aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites.
Note
Lachenalia lives indoors for 5 to 8 years, but gradually it loses its strength and needs to be replaced with new, young seedlings.
