Distinctive features of the plant, growing krinum indoors, breeding steps, pest and disease control during cultivation, facts to note, species. Crinum belongs to the genus of plants, the roots of which have the appearance of bulbs. Such representatives of the flora are usually classified as belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family. Most of these beautifully flowering examples of nature can be found in both hemispheres of the planet, where tropical and subtropical climates prevail. Usually they like to settle in a rather humid area, along the banks of river arteries, which have a tendency to often overflow and flood the surrounding areas. Many species are settled in the lands of the Cape Province in South Africa.
Crinum bears its name from the Latin word "crinis", which means "hair", as it characterizes the elongated leaf plates of the plant hanging to the soil surface in the form of long female strands. Because of its flower shape, it is sometimes referred to as the "giant lily".
Basically, all krinums are perennials with a herbaceous form of growth. But from all other representatives of its family, this plant is distinguished by its gigantic size, although, in truth, there are also small flowers in the genus. This specimen of amaryllis has an elongated or short-necked bulb. The dimensions of such a bulbous formation are from 10 cm to 50 cm in length with a diameter of about 25 cm. But in many varieties, leaf plates, spliced by bases, form a so-called "false trunk", which ends with a fan-shaped rosette of leaves. The number of the leaf plates themselves is multiple; in length they can reach meter sizes. Their shape is linear-lanceolate, with outlines of belts. And another difference of krinum from other plants of the amaryllis family is that their young leaves are not flattened, but as if rolled into a tube.
The real pride of the krinum is its flowers. Inflorescences are collected from them in the form of umbrellas. Their parameters are large, with short legs, or they are sedentary. Between a pair of inflorescences, up to 9–12 leaf plates grow, but the inflorescence takes its origin in that part of the bulb, where the leaves have already dried up. The period that lasts from the formation of the inflorescence to the full disclosure of flowers can be up to five seasons of krinum growth. Flowering stems in height can reach up to meter indicators, and they are usually crowned with 6-10 buds, which hang down on the pedicels. The color of the petals in flowers can be white, with some weak raspberry color, or a pure pink tone. The diameter of a flower, when fully opened, usually varies between 15-20 cm.
It is often customary to install the crinum pot in cool rooms such as terraces, halls, lobbies, or it serves as a good decoration for concert halls or cinemas. It is preferable to keep it in a cold garden.
Growing krinum indoors, planting, caring for a flower
- Lighting this "giant lily" requires a bright one, you don't even have to scatter it and not shade the direct rays of the sun. Even with artificial lighting, it takes up to 16 hours for krinum, otherwise in winter the leaves in the lower part will begin to die off faster. However, after winter, it is required to accustom to intense lighting gradually, otherwise a burn of the leaf surface is inevitable. Windows in the east, west and south locations will do. However, on windows with a south orientation, you need to make sure that the leaves do not swing the glass - this can also lead to burns. In the summer, when the threat of morning frost has passed, it is recommended to move the pot with the plant to the open air, arranging protection from precipitation. The room will require frequent ventilation.
- Air humidity when growing a "giant lily" as an oddly large role does not play, despite all the love of the krinum for its increased indicators. It is recommended to periodically wipe sheet plates with a soft damp sponge or cloth.
- Watering The "giant lily" is an important part in caring for crinum, since in natural conditions the plant often settles on fairly moist substrates. Moisten the soil abundantly when the growing season and flowering lasts, after the top layer of soil in the pot dries out. The water is used at room temperature (about 20-24 degrees). After the inflorescences fade, watering is gradually reduced - the condition of the soil should always be moderately moist. Since it is during this period that the krinum rest (rest) begins, it is kept practically without watering, however, it is impossible to completely stop moisturizing, since the bulbs have fleshy roots, and they perform their functions all year round. It is important that there is no complete drying of the earthy coma, as this will negatively affect the subsequent flowering. The flowering period of krinum directly depends on watering and they can regulate this process. If you want to admire the flowers in winter, then the dormant period is transferred to August or the beginning of autumn days, and the soil in the pot is slightly dried, but it is important that the leaf plates do not fade. At the same time, the appearance of a flower arrow does not have to wait long, and then watering is carried out as usual. To stimulate the crinum to bloom for 7-14 days, they stop moistening it.
- Fertilizers for krinum, they begin to make when new leaf plates are formed on the plant, it is recommended to finish feeding, with the withering of the last flowers. The frequency of fertilization is once every two weeks. You should use preparations of a liquid consistency for flowering indoor plants - the concentration is diluted, following the manufacturer's instructions.
- Transplanting "giant lily" and soil selection. When the plant is already a sufficiently developed specimen, then the pot and soil in it is changed every 2–4 years. Planting is carried out in such a way that 1/3 of the bulb is visible above the surface of the substrate. It is preferable to choose a large and deep pot, which is more suitable for the developed root system of the krinum. Trying not to damage the roots, you must carefully clean off the old soil on them and remove the damaged root processes. A layer of drainage material is placed on the bottom of the container. A substrate for transplanting krinum is selected suitable for plants from the amaryllis family, but you can make it yourself from clay-sod soil, leaf and humus soil, peat and river sand (in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1: 1). Also, crushed pieces of charcoal are added to the composition.
- Leaving during the rest period. This time for krinum begins immediately after flowering, the old foliage begins to gradually fade, changing to a new one. And at that moment the plant transitions into a deeper rest period. If the krinum is deprived of such time, then it will not bloom for the next season. In the spring months, the plant can please with repeated flowering, which is easy to organize in the species of Moore's krinum.
The temperature of the content plays an important role in the cultivation of this flower, since all krinums are divided into two groups:
- Those who are from South Africa (Cape - South African). It is recommended to grow them in cold greenhouses and move them outdoors in summer. If such a plant "lives" in your subtropical region, then it will perfectly endure the winter without shelter without suffering. But the heat indicators will be comfortable in the range of 22-27 degrees, and for the winter the temperature is reduced to 2-6 units, if we take into account the conditions of wintering in the Cape province.
- Crinums from tropical areas are recommended to be kept in warm greenhouses, and only in summer they are taken out into the air. However, the location must be protected from strong winds. For them, the spring-summer heat indicators are maintained in the range of 22-27 degrees, and during the rest period it is required that they do not go beyond the limits of 16-18 units.
Steps when breeding krinum with your own hands
Get a new plant of a giant lily, perhaps sowing seeds, or planting bulb babies.
For seed propagation, the material must be fresh, as it quickly loses its germination properties. The seeds are placed in a pot with moistened peat-sandy soil one by one. Then the container with crops is placed in a mini-greenhouse. But this method does not guarantee a positive result at all and the plant obtained by this method of reproduction will begin to bloom only 4–5 years after planting.
Since over time, babies are formed in the krinum - small daughter bulbs, then this method of reproduction is more successful and simple. But it is not recommended to separate the children quickly, since their presence is the key to the abundant flowering of the "giant lily". The baby should be planted in a pot with a diameter of about 7 cm, with sand and peat soil. A hole is made in the substrate no more than 2.5 cm and the bulb is placed there. Then the container with children is placed in a place with bright but diffused lighting. After it can be seen that the bulbs have sprouted, then they can be transplanted into a larger pot with soil suitable for krinums (usually after a year). At the first transplant, the diameter of the pot increases to 9–12 cm, and even after a year to 15–17 cm. The first time after the transplant, watering is moderate, and then as usual.
During the period of their growth, young plants will need an enhanced watering and feeding regime. When the pot reaches 19-28 cm in diameter, the krinum in it can grow up to 3-4 years, until it has children and begins to bloom abundantly, which occurs 3-4 years after planting the baby bulbs.
Problems with home cultivation of krinum
The plant is rarely affected by pests and diseases, but if the conditions of detention are violated, there are problems in the form of spider mites, thrips or mealybugs. In the first and second cases, a translucent thin cobweb appears on the leaf plates, the edge is as if pierced with a pin, and depressed spots of a round shape with a silvery sheen are visible on the reverse side. When a second pest appears, the leaf plates, the "false stem" and internodes begin to cover with whitish lumps that look like cotton wool, and if you do not take action, then soon all the foliage will be covered with a sticky bloom (pad is the waste products of the pest). These formations serve as fertile soil for the development of a sooty fungus. If the crinum is affected by a daffodil fly, then the bulb begins to rot. In any case, if harmful insects are found, it is recommended to carry out treatment with insecticidal preparations. In the case of rot, fungicide treatment is carried out.
A red burn is also a problem, which is expressed by the formation of longitudinal stripes of a red tint on the foliage. If flowers do not form, then this means that the crinum suffers from a lack of nutrients, as well as when it is deprived of a dormant period or lacks the level of illumination. If the irrigation is not regulated (there is a strong drying of the earthen coma or its frequent flooding), then there is no need to wait for flowers either. It also becomes the cause of the lethargy of the leaf plates.
Facts for the curious about krinum
There are varieties of krinum that are only recommended to be grown in aquariums due to their increased love for moisture and moist substrate.
Important to remember!!! All parts of this beautifully flowering plant contain a poisonous substance - krinin, therefore it is not recommended to install a pot with a giant lily in children's rooms, and it is also worth restricting access to the plant for pets.
Types of krinum
Here is not the entire list of krinum varieties, but only the most popular of them:
- Crinum abyssinicum (Crinum abyssinicum) is a plant with a bulb with a short neck and elongated-rounded outlines, up to 7 cm thick. Usually there are 3 pairs of linear-shaped leaf plates, tapering towards the apex, the edge is rough. Their length is 35–45 cm with a width of up to 1.5 cm. During flowering, the resulting flowering stem can reach 30–60 cm, it is crowned with 4–6 buds, which are collected in an inflorescence with the contours of an umbrella. The color of the petals of the flowers is white, they are sessile with short stalks. The tubular perianth is thin, up to 5 cm long, the petals are elongated, equal in length to 7 cm and up to 2 cm wide. The plant is found in the mountain turbidity of Ethiopia.
- Asian Crinum (Crinum asiaticum). Its bulb can vary in width within 10-15 cm, with a length of about 15-35 cm (these are the parameters of the neck). The number of thin belt-like leaves can be within the range of 20–30 units, along the length they stretch up to 90–125 cm with a width of 7–10 cm, the edge is solid. During flowering, up to 20-50 buds can form in the inflorescence, which sit on pedicels with a length of about 3 cm, there is no aroma. The length of the straight tube of the perianth is about 10 cm, on the surface there is a greenish pattern, the petals are white, linear in outline, they can measure 5–10 cm in length. In the tube of the flower there are stamens of red tone, which diverge on the sides. The flowering process takes place from March to October. The species prefers to settle in stagnant bodies of water in the western territories of tropical Africa.
- Big Crinum (Crinum giganteum) has a large bulb, which grows up to 10-15 cm wide, has a short neck. Leaf plates with a length of about 60–90 cm and a width of about 10 cm, are painted in green color, wavy, a pattern of veins clearly appears on the surface. The length of a strong flowering stem can vary from 50 to 100 cm. Its color is green, has a slight depression. It is often crowned with 4–6 buds, which gather in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence, however, there are plants with the number of flowers from 3 to 12 units. The elongated perianth tube has a bend, its color is green, the length varies within 10-15 cm, the bell-shaped pharynx in length can be equal to 7-10 cm. The color of the petals is whitish, in length they are measured 5-7 cm in width up to 3 cm, inside there are white stamens, which do not exceed the size of the petals. The entire length of the flower reaches a maximum of 20 cm, the flowers have no aroma. The flowering process occurs in the summer.
- Crinum majestic (Crinum augustum). Its bulb reaches 15 cm in length, and the length of the neck is 35 cm. Leaf plates can grow up to 60–90 cm with a width of about 7–10 cm, their number is large, the surface is dense, belt-like shape. The flowering stem is flattened, dark red at the apex. An inflorescence connects 20 or more buds. The flowers have a delicate aroma, they sit on short stalks. The length of the perianth tube is equal to 7–10 cm, it is strong, with a reddish tinge, it can be either straight or with a slight bend. The shape of the petals is lanceolate, they are erect, varying in length from 10-15 cm with a width of about 1.5-2 cm, outside there is a bright red tone. The outlines of the stamens are extended, they have a red color. The flowering process occurs in the spring and summer.
In natural conditions, the plant can be found in the rocky mountains on the island of Mauritius or in the Seychelles. Usually grown in warm greenhouses.
For more on growing krinum, see the video below:
