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Did you know that there are about 50 species of Alstroemeria plants and that they originally came from South America, notably Chile, Brazil, and Peru? It is not surprising that the plants are popularly known as Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas. Still others call it the Parrot Lily to emphasize its diverse colors, painting in one’s mind an image of the bird. The plants come in pink, purple, rose, orange, yellow, red and white – more colors than and as delightful as the rainbow. Alstroemeria plants can be successfully grown in your garden but don’t expect the blooms to be similar to Alstroemeria cutflowers sold by florists. The latter grew from patented hybrids whose varieties are not commercially available for re-planting to your garden. Nevertheless, here are useful pointers to successfully cultivate the Peruvian lily to its full blooming potential.
The best time to plant the Peruvian lily is in the spring or late fall, in soil that does not hold water or that drains well - the plants rot in waterlogged soil. Since Alstroemeria plants love being bathed in sunlight, plant them in areas where they can fully bask in the sun for about 4 to 6 hours each day. Astroemeria plants are also thirsty plants. Drench them with water regularly (at least once a week) or as needed to keep the soil moist always. It is highly recommended that the plants be enclosed with about 3 inches of mulch to retain water – bark mulch, shredded leaves, or straw. Like a ‘free spirit’ yet private being, they need ample space – so that each plant has to be at least a foot away from each other and their bulbs about eight inches deep into the ground.
To maximize its growth and to preserve the environment, apply any organic fertilizer like manure, slurry, peat, and others once in the spring and summer, but, never in winter. At this time, Astroemeria plants disappear into a deep slumber under the ground. No, the Alstroemeria plants have not fallen off the face of the earth - so mark the areas of their location so you won’t mistakenly dig them up. If by chance heavy frost descends from the skies during winter, cover their location with a thick layer of dry straw, shavings, or mulch. To prepare them for this respite, cut their stalks down to three inches above the soil after they have stopped flowering. In no time will they rise up and bloom again in spring and summer.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about plant and tree identification and organic gardening at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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