Amazon Lily Flower: How To Grow And Care For Amazon Lily Bulb

The Amazon lily flower is a tropical found all-time known for its clusters of white flowers and large dark green leaves. Although coaxing the bulb to flower can exist tricky, the greenish foliage alone has enough ornamental appeal to make it ideal for every garden.

Another caveat to the bulb's pitch is that information technology'southward quite poisonous both to humans and pets. But with the proper precautions, yous can enjoy the delights of this flowering lily without putting yourself or your household at hazard. Read more to find out how to grow and care for the Amazon lily and get it to flower non simply once but twice a year.

All Nigh Amazon Lily

The Amazon lily (Eucharis amazonica) is an umbrella term that includes as many every bit twenty species of lilies. Native to the tropical Amazon forest, the bulb grows well in zones 10 and 11. Outside of those two zones, yous'd take to grow it in a greenhouse.

In its natural habitat, the evergreen perennial bulb grows in the shade of trees, bushes, and other larger plants. So by nature, it craves partial shade and doesn't do well when exposed to direct sunlight. The perennial plant has shiny dark green leaves that grow to near 22 inches long and 8 inches wide.

Simply it's the star-shaped flowers that steal the limelight. They blossom atop a long stalk that grows straight out of the bulb. Each stalk carries a cluster of 4 to 5 flowers. When they open, the flowers are white and showy. They ordinarily blossom in the spring, just you can get the bulb to bloom more than one time every year.

To achieve this blooming wonder, you'll need to withhold h2o and fertilizer from the seedling until the leaves turn yellow and wilt. Then give the plant a skillful soaking. The stupor of the sudden moisture in the soil volition force it to abound blossom buds. Withhold h2o again for 4 weeks, during which fourth dimension the leaves will drop. Then water on a regular basis until the flowers blossom and new leaves grow.

Amazon Lily Varieties

Technically speaking, the Amazon lily refers to a specific species called Eucharis amazonica. Withal, in the world of lilies, you'll find many other species marketed every bit Amazon lilies. At that place'southward no deception hither. All species belong to the genus Eucharis and to be fair, they all have their ornamental qualities that set them apart from the remainder of the larger lily family unit. Here are some of the bachelor Amazon lily varieties to grow in your garden or greenhouse.

• Eucharis astrophile: A native of Ecuador, this lily grows best in moist soil and loftier humidity. Like other lily species, it doesn't like direct sun exposure. It's a rare species, and due to extensive development in its natural habitat, information technology'southward considered an endangered species.

• Eucharis candida: Another lily species that grows in Peru, Republic of colombia, and Ecuador. The wide leaves have a tapering end, and the white flowers take arching petals that evidence xanthous and thick anthers.

• Eucharis × grandiflora: Although this is a hybrid, information technology's a hybrid that grows naturally in its native Ecuador and Colombia. It is similar in every way to the Eucharis amazonica except for its less showy flowers. To flower, the bulb needs temperatures between 66 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit as well as abiding humidity levels higher up lxxx percentage.

• Eucharis amazonica: The existent Amazon lily among this lot. Information technology has adapted well to many tropical regions from Peru to Mexico and Sri Lanka. Its showy white flowers accept a sugariness odor. But it's not every bit hardy as the other species on this list, and so flowering is not guaranteed outside of zones 10 and xi.

How to Grow Amazon Lily

If you alive in a colder zone where the temperature drops in the winter evenings, then it'southward meliorate to grow the Amazon lily in a container. Paradoxically, the potted lily has meliorate chances of blooming than one growing the garden. Every bit long equally you lot plant it in a small pot and repot it once every 3 years, you can enjoy the dazzler of this tropical lily for many years. Here'south how to grow it from bulbs in easy steps.

1. Select a small container virtually 6 inches in diameter. That is enough to grow about 4 bulbs at a time.
2. Make full the container with a potting mix and add most one-3rd of organic materials. This enriches the soil and makes it more porous.
3. Dig a hole in the soil for each bulb and identify the bulb so that its neck is slightly to a higher place the soil line.
4. Fill back the holes with soil and house it to push button out air pockets.
5. H2o the container immediately to get the soil moist. Continue it moist until the bulbs develop roots, and the first stem emerges.
6. Identify the container in a well-lit area that doesn't go direct sunlight and is protected from chilly wind or strong currents.
7. Don't permit the temperature drop below 55 degrees F. That could slow down the growth of the bulb and forestall information technology from flowering.
8. Maintain high humidity levels in a higher place eighty percent throughout the yr. When the plant goes fallow, information technology tin tolerate lower humidity.
9. The Amazon lily enjoys being container jump, and a crowded pot is ideal for the growth and flowering of the bulb. And so keep them in the same container until the roots peek out of the drainage holes. Then you tin repot them in a slightly larger container.

Amazon Lily Care

Contrary to what many people believe, the Amazon lily doesn't grow in water. It requires moist soil or a growing medium, but waterlogged soil will make the bulbs rot. So don't try to grow it in a basin of water. As a sensitive plant to both calorie-free and temperature, it requires some attention and a little fleck of piece of work to get it growing correct. Below we detail every aspect of the bulb's intendance to ensure yous keep your Amazon lily in good health and shape.

Soil

The type of soil you plant the Amazon lily depends on whether yous grow it indoors or outdoors. For garden planting in zones ten and eleven, make sure the soil drains well and has enough of organic materials. The bulbs don't do well in clay soil because of their loftier water retention. As for indoor planting, choose a general-purpose potting mix and amend it with humus and compost. This improves the soil'due south drainage. Make sure the pH levels are between v.6 to 6.four. Slightly acidic soil is bully as long as it's not as well acidic or too alkaline.

Water

The water requirements of the Amazon lily vary by the season and whether they're potted or growing in the garden. For potted plants, maintain moist soil throughout the growing season. This might require watering the bulbs every other solar day during the summer months. If the soil doesn't lose moisture that apace, then h2o it lightly every other day. For outdoor lilies, give the bulbs i inch of water or less. Don't let the top 2 inches dry out, and don't overwater either. The only fourth dimension you'd want to dehydrate the lily is when y'all're trying to coax information technology to flower, as we explained above.

Temperature and Humidity

As far as tropical plants become, the Amazon lily likes warm temperatures and loftier humidity. Information technology grows best when the temperature is between 65 to 75 degrees all year round. If the temperature drops below 55 degrees F at night, you risk losing the flowers. If that continues, the leaves will droop and drop as well. You'll need to move the potted bulbs indoors in the late fall and bring them back when the weather warms up in the spring.

Humidity has to be somewhere in the higher 70s percent to go on the foliage shiny green. In dry conditions, the plant will not flower, and the leaves will wilt quickly. Place a humidifier next to the potted bulbs if you observe any of these symptoms.

Fertilizer

Since the Amazon lily thrives when it's pot-bound, you'll demand to feed the bulbs regularly during the bound and summer. If the evergreen plant flowers in the winter, feed it with organic compost as shortly every bit the buds emerge. Use a balanced x-ten-10 fertilizer to boost the foliage growth and improve flowering. Starting time applying fertilizer from the early spring until the last flower drops. A slow-release fertilizer will produce good results as well.

Repotting

Sooner or after, the slow-growing Amazon lily bulbs volition outgrow the minor container, and the roots popular out of the drainage holes. That'south your cue to repot them. This might take upwardly to 3 years, or it might happen before. The sensitive lilies tend to get shocked when you lot repot them and might go for a yr without flowering. That'southward normal and shouldn't business concern you. If the flowers don't announced by the 2d year after repotting, endeavour to coax the plant to flower by withholding h2o and fertilizer until the leaves wilt then watering it.

Pruning and Deadheading

For the most part, pruning is not necessary. But when old leaves turn yellow and wilt would you need to remove them. But don't trim off more one leafage at a time. Requite the found about a week before you remove another large leaf.

The flowers, for all their beauty, tend to produce a huge amount of pollen. Combined with the high humidity around the pot, the pollen tin can become a risk risk. So unless you desire to harvest the seeds, you need to deadhead the flowers earlier they pollinate. Cutting the flowers before they finish their life cycle also triggers the bulbs to grow more flowers to replace the lost ones. As usual, don't cut more than one bloom at one fourth dimension.

Pests and Diseases

Caterpillars and spider mites are the two frequent visitors that casualty on the thick leaves and flowers of the Amazon lily. Caterpillars feed on the sap in the leaves and sometimes would sample the bulbs leaving big holes in them. This could prove detrimental to the plant itself. Every bit for spider mites, they cover the leaves and stalks with their webs which causes them to turn xanthous and wilt. Treat both pests with neem oil. You tin also pick the caterpillars by hand and drown them in a bucket full of soapy water.

Root rot is the most common disease for the Amazon lily. Information technology's often the upshot of poor drainage soil and overwatering. If left undetected, root rot could be lethal. It affects the roots, bulb, and crown. Yous can still relieve the establish if the bulb is all the same healthy.

Amazon Lily Toxicity

Every part of the Amazon lily is highly toxic. This includes the flowers, leaves, stalks, bulbs, and roots. Humans and pets alike volition endure if they ingest any part of the plant. Signs of poisoning include excessive thirst, rash around the mouth, nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. You should seek immediate medical assist in case of poisoning.

When handling the lily, yous need to wear protective gear. Don't touch the found with your blank easily since any scratches in the skin could become itchy and trigger a rash.

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Source: https://www.diys.com/amazon-lily/

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