Description of the plant zephyranthes, how to plant and care for it in the garden, how to reproduce, difficulties in growing and ways to overcome them, facts for flower growers, species.
Zephyranthes is one of the brightest representatives of the family of flowering plants - Amaryllidaceae. Due to the presence of storage organs, such as corms, and the structure of its flowers, it was originally included in another family, samples of which are found almost throughout the planet. But Zephyranthes mainly prefers the lands of the American continent, where tropical and subtropical climates prevail. Growth is also possible in regions of Argentina and Chile with a moderately warm zone and under similar conditions in the West Indies. Botanists today number up to hundreds of species, among them there are both natural and bred by breeders. Such plants differ not only in the height of the stems, but also in the color and size of flowers, and growing conditions.
| Family name | Amaryllidaceae |
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Growth features | Grassy |
| Reproduction | Seed and bulbous |
| Landing period in open ground | After warming up the soil - April-May |
| Disembarkation scheme | There should be no more than 3-5 cm between the bulbs |
| Substrate | Nutritious, loose and light |
| Soil acidity, pH | 6 (neutral) |
| Illumination | Solar accommodation |
| Moisture indicators | Regular but moderate watering |
| Special Requirements | Not demanding in leaving |
| Plant height | 30-40 cm |
| Color of flowers | Snow white, pink, yellow (all shades) or red |
| Type of flowers, inflorescences | Single flowers on the tops of peduncles |
| Flowering time | April to July |
| Decorative time | Spring-summer |
| Place of application | As a container crop, primrose or planting in spring beds, rockeries or rock gardens |
| USDA zone | 4–9 |
There are many popular names for a plant, for example, an upstart, since a stem with a flower can "jump" out of the ground before the foliage unfolds. In some countries, it is called a water lily, a rain lily, and a rain flower, as flowers bloom in their native lands before the rainy season begins. And as soon as a solid rain passes, the buds open in a couple of days. But the scientific name comes from the combination of the ancient Greek parts "zephyr" and "anthos", meaning respectively "god of the west wind" and "flower". This is because the plant begins to develop very quickly, at a time when the bulk of the flowering plants are just entering the vegetation stage.
Zephyranthes originates from ovoid or rounded bulbs, the diameter of which ranges from 1 to 5 cm. Depending on the variety, the neck of the bulb can be either elongated or short. The surface of the bulb is brownish, all covered with scales. Each of the bulbs produces several flowering stems. When the dry season comes, most of the natural upstart species are devoid of foliage and endure dry periods in the soil. This arrangement reliably shelters the plant from possible forest fires or pests. But the latter aspect is also facilitated by the fact that there are poisonous substances in the bulbs of zephyranthes.
The foliage of the rain lily is located in the root zone, the leaf blade is narrowed, belt-like or linear, in length can vary within 30-40 cm. Because of this, it is similar in shape to onion feathers, but in Zephyranthes they are more fleshy. The color of the leaves is rich green, sometimes very dark. Usually the leaves appear much later than the peduncle stretches.
Peduncles in zephyranthes can reach a height of 25-30 cm, they grow from a flower bud that has formed during the previous growing season. The top of the flowering stem is crowned with single delicate flowers, somewhat reminiscent of small lilies. The flowering stem is tubular and hollow inside, not leafy. The flowering time in natural conditions coincides with the beginning of the rainy season in the native lands of this representative of Ammarilis. In our country, it can occur from April to mid-summer and directly depends on the type of plant. The color of the petals in flowers can be very diverse - snow-white, pink, yellow (all shades) or red. Often, the inner part of the flower has a contrasting tone. In the central part there are elongated filaments, which are crowned with anthers of bright yellow or brick-red color. The shape of the flower resembles a funnel or it can resemble an asterisk with strongly open rays-petals.
When opened, the maximum flower diameter reaches 8 cm. The perianth is also tubular. Each flower “lives” for 2–5 days, but quite a few of them appear to replace the wilted ones, so the flowering seems to be long. All due to the fact that in nature the bulbs are located nearby and there are many peduncles in one place. The buds seem to "pop up", confirming the popular name of the plant. Occasionally, the flowering process can be repeated in summer or autumn.
Zephyranthes is easy to care for and is loved by many growers as well as crocuses, since it blooms early and abundantly, especially when grown in summer outdoors. Many varieties are suitable for indoor use. We have already written about growing zephyranthus at home. In colder climates, it will only be necessary to move the plants indoors and then plant them in the garden in spring.
Planting and caring for zephyranthes outdoors
- A place to plant a rain lily. Since the upstart loves warmth and light, you can pick up a flowerbed with a southern location. Rockeries or rock gardens are a good place. It is better that the location of such plantings be on a hill, which guarantees the avoidance of moisture stagnation, since with strong moisture, the bulbs can quickly rot.
- Temperature conditions. Since the plant is quite thermophilic, when grown in a garden in a temperate climate, Zephyranthes will not set seeds.
- Councils for the selection of varieties and seedlings. Since we will be growing the upstart outdoors, it is important to choose a more resistant species. In our climatic conditions, most of them are used as a home potting culture, but in the southern regions, upstarts grow well in flower beds and flower beds. If the climate in your zone is moderate, then it is recommended to use varieties of large-flowered and pink zephyranthes - Zephyranthes grandiflora or Zephyranthes rosea, which are distinguished by early flowering. When using the plant as an annual, any species with abundant flowering will do. Planting material (if there is no one of its own) is not recommended to be purchased in ordinary flower shops, as they can be too dry. Germination of such planting material, like flowering, will begin only after 3-4 years from the moment of planting. To avoid this, it is better to buy bulbs in nurseries, planted in containers, they can be small pots or bonsai plants.
- Soil for planting zephyranthes in the garden should be nutritious and fertile, with good looseness and lightness properties, which will allow moisture and air to pass to the bulbs. If the soil is heavy and poor, then river sand and compost are mixed into it when digging.
- Planting zephyranthes. The difference when planting in the soil on a garden bed and at home cultivation is that in the first case, the bulb deepens completely, since its decay can begin, provoking the death of the entire plant. In a pot, on the other hand, it is allowed that the root collar is above the surface of the substrate. Planting zephyranthes bulbs is carried out in the spring months when the soil is fully warmed up. In some areas, this time comes only in May or June. Before planting, the soil must be prepared in advance - dug up, loosened and leveled. After that, the flower bed is thoroughly watered so that the moisture has time to be absorbed, and its excess leaves. Before planting, all sowing material requires inspection, if places with rot or damage are seen on the bulbs, then they are not used. You can expect good flowering only from healthy bulbs. Planting is carried out both one by one and several bulbs in one hole (often up to 5 pieces, which will ensure long flowering). If the onion has a shortened neck, it is required to completely bury it in the soil. After planting, soil moistening is also necessary. The distance between the bulbs is about 3–5 cm. In warm areas, rooting takes place quite quickly.
- Watering a rain lily. Only after the soil is abundantly moistened or heavy rains have passed, the flower stalks will "pop out" from the zephyranthes. Watering is the most important aspect when caring for a plant, therefore, they are carried out regularly, but so that the soil is not flooded, otherwise, during flooding, there is a possibility of the onset of putrefactive processes in the bulbs. Irrigation is carried out with extremely warm and well-settled water. For example, they fill a bucket of water and put it in the sun. After a couple of days, you can moisten the soil next to the upstart plantings. Plants are watered only at the root, if drops hit the foliage, rotting of the bulb or leaves may begin. It is also curious that insufficient watering will affect flowering - it will not come. The main indicator when leaving will be constantly slightly moist soil, but when the zephyranthus begins to shed foliage, watering is gradually stopped and when the plant goes into rest mode, it stops altogether. After each watering or rain, it is recommended that the soil be loosened without fail so that it is not taken by the crust, otherwise the normal access of air and moisture to the bulbs will cease. Loosening should be done carefully so as not to damage the bulbs. You should also regularly weed the weeds.
- Fertilizers for zephyranthes. In order for the "upstart" to please with abundant or repeated flowering, it is recommended, before the very opening of the buds, to feed with a complete mineral complex, for example, "Kemira-Universal" or "Agricola".
- Rules for the collection and storage of bulbs. Since the weather conditions in our latitudes are not suitable for wintering zephyranthes in the open field, in the autumn, until frosts come, the bulbs should be carefully dug up. The main thing is not to injure them. The remnants of foliage from them can not be removed yet and spread out to dry. Only after the planting material is completely dry, it is cleaned. Storing rain lily bulbs is recommended in small dry boxes; some growers sprinkle the bulbs with dry sawdust to protect them from excess moisture from the air. The temperature at which the planting material of zephyranthes is stored must be maintained within the range of 18-23 degrees. Only with the arrival of spring and sufficient heating of the soil can they be planted. There are varieties that can be carefully removed from the soil and transplanted into a flower container to continue growing indoors. Then, even in winter, the plant can please with its flowering. One of these species is white zephyranthes (Zephyranthes candida).
- Zephyranthes application in landscape design. In zones with a tropical climate, it is customary to use the "upstart" to form flower beds, flower beds, which are completely planted with this representative of the flora, since it spreads quite quickly. If the climate in your latitudes is temperate, then it is possible to combine planting rain lilies with other flowering plants in the flower beds. Zephyranthes bushes in rocky gardens, rockeries or on alpine slides fill the spaces well. "Upstarts" of different heights can be used for landscaping curbs or planting along garden paths. If you do not want to bother with digging or transplanting and then storing the "rain flower" bulbs in the autumn-winter time, they are placed in garden pots in advance and when summer comes, they are simply taken out into the street. At the same time, phytocompositions and flower beds can also be decorated with flowering stems.
How to breed zephyranthes?
To get new rain lily plants, there is a seed method or a method of planting baby bulbs.
Seed reproduction
Since the conditions of our latitudes are quite cold for this method of breeding zephyranthes, it can be grown in this way indoors. But it should be noted right away that this process is quite laborious and does not guarantee a 100% positive result. In temperate climates, the seeds are unlikely to ripen, and therefore it will be necessary to keep the plant in the room until they are fully ripe. Only freshly harvested material is sown, since the germination period is very short-lived.
To collect seeds in room conditions, you will need to patiently wait for the end of the flowering process and carry out artificial pollination. Using a soft brush, you will have to transfer pollen from the stamens of some flowers to others. After a couple of months, the seeds will ripen and can be harvested. But as practice shows, inexperienced growers rarely cope with such an operation.
If you nevertheless become the proud owner of fresh Zephyranthes seed, then in the spring peat-sandy soil is poured into the pot, which was previously disinfected. The soil in the container is thoroughly moistened and loosened, and then leveled. The seeds are placed on the surface of the soil at a distance of 2-3 cm. Then, to create the conditions for a mini-greenhouse, it is necessary to cover the seed pots with plastic wrap and put the container in a shaded place. The germination temperature is maintained at about 22 degrees. In this case, the care will consist in airing and spraying the soil if it begins to dry out from above. After at least 20-25 days, you can see the first sprouts of zephyranthes. When the seedlings are grown, with the arrival of May-June, it will be possible to plant them in the garden or grow them indoors. Only after 2-3 years will such "upstarts" please with their flowering.
Reproduction using zephyranthes baby bulbs
will be simpler. During one growing season, next to each mother's bulb, you can count 10-15 small young bulbs, which are popularly called "babies". The best time to separate this "overgrowth" from the bulb is a dormant period at the plant or right in front of it. Since, when grown in the garden, the bulbs are necessarily dug up and transferred to the house for storage, before drying, it is possible to separate the children who will go to reproduction in the future.
But if the mother's bulbs go to rest in boxes with sawdust, then the children still need to grow. To do this, a peat-sand substrate is poured into the container and thoroughly moistened. Then, 5-6 zephyranthes onion babies are placed in each of the pots, so that the subsequent flowering is longer and more abundant. Children are planted in the ground and also thoroughly moistened. The distance between them is 3 cm. The upstart bulbs are grown in a bright and warm place, and the planting is carried out the next spring, when the young rain lilies will bloom.
Difficulties in growing zephyranthes in the garden and ways to overcome them
Of the pests of rain lilies, spider mites, scale insects, whiteflies or amaryllis (mealy) bugs can be distinguished. Symptoms of the presence of "uninvited guests" are, following the indicated sequence:
- the appearance of a thin cobweb on the stems and foliage, deformation of the leaf plate and its yellowing, fall (waste products of the pest);
- small shiny plaques on the back of the leaves and on the stems of a brown color, also pad and deformation of the leaves, growth arrest;
- small specks of white on the back of the leaf plate, and subsequently many small whitish midges;
- cotton-like bloom and formations in the form of white cotton balls in internodes, on stems and foliage, pad.
If such signs are detected, treatment with insecticidal or acaricidal agents, like Aktellik, Aktara or Fitoverm, should be carried out immediately.
The main disease that is a problem when growing zephyranthes is fusarium or red rot. The disease is provoked by fungi, which leads to rotting of the root system (bulbs), the foliage of the plant withers and turns yellow. The earthen lump together with the bulb affected by fusarium is immediately destroyed, and if the bulb looks healthy, then it is kept for about 30 minutes in the "Maxim" or other fungicide. Then re-planting is carried out in a new pot and sterile soil in compliance with the watering regime. However, the first time, moisturizing is not carried out until signs of recovery appear.
Interesting notes about the Zephyranthes flower
Since foliage contains alkaloids, care must be taken when working with a plant - use gloves and wash your hands with soap and water after finishing work.
Important
Because of the poisonous foliage, you should not plant zephyranthus in easy reach for children and pets.
The foliage of zephyranthus has an activity to fight tumors, preparations based on it work as an anti-inflammatory and sugar-reducing agent, therefore the plant is used in official medicine. Medicines for cancer, tuberculosis, or diabetes mellitus are manufactured in the United States. For a long time, healers knew about similar properties of the rain lily and used them with success. So infusions and decoctions based on Zephyranthes grandiflora will help to cope with abscesses. On the basis of the plant, hot compresses were prepared, they were used to treat follicular sore throat and kidney diseases. Chinese doctors for gastritis or convulsions prescribe to patients preparations from Zephyranthes candida.
If we talk about the energetic properties of a rain lily, then it can easily cleanse the home atmosphere, protect it from stress and fuss, and give peace. The plant relieves the condition of the elderly household and is a talisman of good relationships with others.
Types of Zephyranthes
Since there are quite a few types of "upstart" we will focus on the most popular ones:
Zephyranthes white (Zephyranthes candida)
as it is also called - Zephyranthes snow-white … The flowering period is medium-late (from July to October). The name implies that the petals in the flowers are pure white. The bulb is rounded, its diameter is about 3 cm, but the maximum size rarely exceeds 5–6 cm. The foliage is decorative, reaches 25–30 cm in length. The flowers are very much like a crocus, the diameter of the flower can be 6 cm.
Zephyranthes grandiflora
An early flowering species, suitable for growing in temperate climates. The shape of the bulb is rounded-ovate, growing in diameter no more than 2, 5–3 cm. The color of the foliage is rich emerald, the leaf plate has a longitudinal groove in the middle. The length of the leaf can grow up to 25-30 cm. The flowering process is pleasing to the eye from April to July. The flower is made up of lanceolate petals, painted in pinkish-red tones.
Zephyranthes rosea
has a medium-sized bulb - 2–3 cm. The leaf plate with a shiny surface, color is dark green. The flowering stem is strong, originating from the center of the bud formed during the previous vegetative period. The top of the peduncle is decorated with a bright pink flower that has a wide opening. Flowering occurs in late spring and lasts until early autumn.
Zephyranthes atamasca
The neck of the bulb is short, the shape of the bulb is ovoid, the surface is covered with brown scales, the diameter is small (2–2, 5 cm). The foliage is elongated, narrowed, linear. One bulb has 5–6 leaves. Blooms from mid-spring to early summer. The peduncle jumps out with a height of 20–25 cm, is hollow inside, tubular, and lacks foliage. The flower is snow-white, when opened, the diameter reaches 4 cm.
Video about garden cultivation of zephyranthes:
