Sandersonia

Family. Liliaceae.

Origin. South Africa.

Description. Sandersonia is a perennial plant with climbing, thin shoots or a shrub with erect stems. The leaves are green, narrowly lanceolate, sessile, up to 10 cm long, densely cover the stems, arranged alternately. Unusual orange, hanging flowers resemble Chinese lanterns.

Height. Reaches 80 cm in height.

Planting and care

Temperature conditions

In spring and summer, normal room temperature. During the winter months, it is better to provide a cool room with a temperature of about 10° C.

Lighting

During the daytime, plants provide shade from the scorching rays of the sun. Sandersonia can take sunbathing in the morning and evening and is successfully grown in partial shade.

Care

The plant does not have any special requirements for maintenance conditions and is quite easy to grow. The flower can be taken out into the fresh air during the warm season, sheltered from the wind and direct sunlight. Fading buds should be picked off in a timely manner to extend the flowering period. The long and thin stems of the bushes often require support.

Substrate

Grows best in organic-rich, moist but well-drained soil. Use a potting mix of leaf mulch, coarse sand or perlite with a good layer of drainage at the bottom of the container. The substrate should have a slightly acidic pH.

Feeding

Sandersonia is fed with liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks during the growing season.

Purpose

The graceful flowers are used for cutting.

Flowering time

Blooms in late spring and summer. 

Air humidity

In summer, if the room temperature is high, spray the plants with soft water at room temperature. In autumn and winter, the indoor air should be dry. 

Soil moisture

In spring and summer, keep the soil evenly moist, but avoid stagnation of moisture. In autumn, reduce the frequency of watering in accordance with the temperature. During the winter months, the soil should be practically dry.

Transfer

Sandersonia tubers are planted in spring in a nutrient substrate and pots with large drainage holes.

Reproduction

Daughter nodules. By fresh seeds or by dividing plants when replanting. Seed propagation will take a long period of time and is not always successful. Before sowing, the seeds are soaked for a day in warm water and subjected to cold stratification during the winter months at a temperature of about 5 ° C. 

Pests and diseases

In autumn and winter, plants suffer from excessive watering. Tubers shrivel and dry out if stored at normal room temperature in winter.

Among the harmful insects, plants can be annoyed by aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and thrips. When kept in open ground, the flower can be attacked by slugs, snails, and caterpillars.

Note

Sandersonia can be grown successfully indoors for many years if given a cool dormant period. All parts of the plant are poisonous - keep the plant away from children and pets.