Alstroemeriaspp.
Alstroemeria , also known as Peruvian , parrot , or princess lily , as well as lily of the Incas , is an particular cutting garden flower in the Alstroemeriaceae category .
There are about 80 species aboriginal to South America , with the great diversity in Chile . Thanks to today ’s hybrids and cultivars , there ’s a rainbow of options available for the home gardener .
Most of the species are perennial , and they develop year - circular inUSDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8 to 10 . With a little mulch in winter , you may even have success in neighboring zones .
The temperate climate of southern California is the perfect setting for perennial Alstroemeria, where it readily naturalizes. Photo by Allison Sidhu.
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permit ’s find out all we can and then see where to buy some of our own .
What You’ll Learn
How to Grow Peruvian Lilies
To spring up this fertile bloomer , find a cheery to partly shady location .
The soil should be of in force character and on the loose side , so it drain well . Enrich it with compostand add up a little George Sand if necessary .
From Rootstock
Mound the soil to promote drainageas you would to grow squash . come out the tuberous rhizome on the mound and cover it with ground . If there are prow or shoots , they should be erect and seeable above the ground .
Tamp the dirt down gently to secure the rootstock in billet , body of water , and tamp down again . keep up even moisture , but do n’t let the soil get soggy .
From Seed
Some folks plant seminal fluid instead , but often it fails to germinate . The trouble starts once it ’s harvested from spent blossoms .
You see , in nature , seed dries out completely and then undergoes a period of wetness , cold-blooded , and catch on about all wintertime long . It ’s this “ stale stratification ” that enable it to break quiescence and sprout .
To replicate this natural process , you might try the following :
The temperate climate of southern California is the perfect setting for perennial Alstroemeria, where it readily naturalizes. Photo by Allison Sidhu.
As an alternative , you could also offer the necessary period of shivery indoors .
According to Julie Thompson - Adolph in her book , Starting Saving Seeds : raise the Perfect Vegetables , Fruits , Herbs , and flush for Your Garden , you may occupy a bag or container with seed begin mix , dampen it , and add seeds that have been given plenty of metre to fully dry .
post it in the refrigerator for two to four weeks to replicate outdoor precondition before sprouting indoors , and be sure to keep the potting intermediate moist throughout .
start out & Saving Seeds , uncommitted via Amazon
We have n’t assay this particular method for this coinage ourselves , and time demand on moth-eaten stratification may vary depending on the cultivar . Sounds like a fun wintertime project to experiment with , and find out what provide the best germination rate for your collected come !
Keep in mind that buy seeds should issue forth already stratified , and quick for plant .
Whenever I start plants from seed , I like tosprout them indoors in egg cartonsor seed embark on containers . Using a variety of sand , perlite , and vermiculite is urge , to promote drainage .
When your seedling are about two inches grandiloquent , graft them out of doors to the garden or a container with secure drain holes , and remember – commode dry out a tidy sum faster than the ground .
Allow one to two feet of outer space per plant life . Some bloom in the first twelvemonth , most by the second .
A eminence on Hybrid Plants :
Some hybrids do not produce seed at all . They are propagated by the division of their rootstock and breed this means so as not to become invasive . You may split plant life in natural spring to thin them out , make new works for other locations , partake with acquaintance , or all three !
These plants take time to make . Help them alongwith regular wateringand a periodical program of dense - release fertilizer . prefer one with a low nitrogen subject matter to avoid a proliferation of leafage with few blooms .
A fun - fact about Peruvian Lily is that it course make some bow that are strictly vegetive ( non - sexual ) , while others produce flush . With diligent upkeep , by the 2nd year , you ’ll enjoy efflorescence from summer through fall . And the best part – the bloom is continuous .
In some regions , like southern California , many plant have jumped bed and border perimeters to cultivate in the wild . you’re able to void thisby “ deadheading ” spent blossomsto prevent seed gloam .
Pick the full stem turn at its base , and do n’t just remove the top , just in casing there ’s still some oomph allow for to make more stems and flower before season ’s end .
Peruvian Lily Species and Cultivars to Select
Are you ready to purchase someAlstroemeriaplants for your gardens or containers ? tick off out these stunner !
‘ Amerind Summer,’available from Burpee
Enjoy all the colors of a summer sundown with the golden - hued petals and bronze foliage of ‘ Indian Summer . ’ This 30 - inch - marvellous , 24 - inch - all-embracing stunner that ’s winter hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6 .
‘ Summer Breeze,’available from Burpee
‘ summertime Breeze ’ is a marvel , with its orange - yellow blossoms and variegated leafage . It ’s 30 inches tall by 24 inches full at maturity , and wintertime hardy to Zone 6 .
‘ Colorita Elaine,’available from Burpee
Pink with gold and maroon dots and dashes , ‘ Colorita Elaine ’ is a dwarf mixture that reaches a summit of 14 inches at maturity .
‘ Colorita Claire,’available from Burpee
‘ Colorita Claire ’ is snowy white dwarf diversity that is sure to delight at 14 in tall .
‘ Colorita Ariane,’available from Burpee
‘ Colorita Ariane ’ is another deary . This 14 - inch gnome with freckled icteric faces on each blossom is perfect for the garden or container .
Flower Harvesting
When your plant are well established , they will begin to “ colonise , ” forming legion mound along a series of overweight rhizomes . Each fresh plant stem turn that turn shoots straight up from these tuberous roots .
As a matter of fact , you’re able to stimulate works growth each prison term you want rationalize heyday . Here ’s how :
Instead of cutting stems at random places with shear , deplumate each one at its base , near to the rootstock , to encourage the growth of Modern shoots . slowly ! Then use shear to ignore stems to desired duration .
The elision to this exercise is if you ’re lucky enough to have flowers in the first yr , in which event some folks recommend trim near the base with shear to keep uprooting a new flora .
Using Alstroemeria as a Cut Flower
Alstroemeria is prized by professionals and amateurs alike because of its striking , azalea - same blossom .
It derive in an extensive color pallet and has a long vase life . Sturdy stem substantiate respectable clusters of vividly - colorise petals that are often striated or flecked by contrasting colors .
In accession , the leaf twists in a unique fashion so that the undersurface becomes the top surface . There ’s a ring of leaves just beneath the heyday , and then more alternate down the bow .
To expose write out flowers in a vase , get rid of all stem foliage but the top cluster . This serves two purposes : the water stay clean longer , and the flower receive more hydration .
Once picked , Peruvian lily live a unspoiled two weeks in water system . My first experience with it was using it as a makeweight flower among larger specimen in magniloquent vase , as well as a stand - alone in humble bud vase and bubble bowl .
A Note of Caution :
You should always wear gloves when wield this plant . It contains horizontal surface of toxicity that may cause illness if ingested , or an allergic reaction with peel physical contact .
Would you like to make your own centrepiece for dinner party parties ? Why notstart a press clipping garden ? Maybe you alreadyenjoy arranging foliage from your one thousand . If so , this is an especial flower that you need to engraft .
Overwintering Tips
There are deciduous and evergreen variety ofAlstroemeriaavailable , with some dropping leaf and others hold them throughout the dormant winter season .
In the temperate geographical zone favored by this plant , you may care the visual interest allow for by leaf that hold up year - round . If you are in a fringe geographical zone , pack some mulch around your plantsand they may storm you by holding up just all right .
If you are growing in containers where the winters are harsh , bring them inside before the first frost . Place your pots in a coolheaded location with filtered sunlight , and water often enough to keep the soil from entirely dry out out .
You may also dig genus Tuber from the earth and convey them inside in pots of soil . However , they do n’t like to be disturbed , and you may finish up breaking them .
The option is to grow Peruvian lily as an annual and replace it with a fresh and exciting potpourri , or your all - clip favorite , each season .
When bound returns and the frost warnings have passed , divide heavy clumps of rootstockas desired . Plant them , gradually move indoor containers out of doors to season off , and resume even watering with proficient drainage at this time .
Pests and Diseases
You should have few disease and pestis issues although there are a few to keep an eye out for .
Pests
Alstroemeriaplants are loosely free of onset from mammal and other herbivores due to their semi - toxic leave-taking .
Ifaphids , spider mites , orwhitefliesappear , it ’s credibly as a effect of either overwatering or not watering often enough , and the stress both can cause .
In the case of over - watering , the root may become waterlogged and waste , snail and their kin may move in , and the industrial plant may be unrecoverable .
If you are under - watering , yellowing leaves will be an early admonition sign for you to resume irrigation and guard off plague and vulnerability to disease .
Keep an insecticidal soap on hand , just in case , and apply according to the package instructions in the case of a tumid infestation .
Here ’s a wind : If you ’re in for an unco red-hot spell , water well and mound mulch around your plants to help keep the ground nerveless . Otherwise , your flowers may not be as plentiful .
Diseases
The are several fungal diseases and mosaic viruses that can affect your plants .
Three fungus disease are the most common admit : Botrytis blight , Rhizoctoniaroot rot , andPythiumroot molder .
Several mosaic viruses are also a terror to your Peruvian lilies .
This fungous disease , also have intercourse as gray mold , work itself have a go at it by fluffy , gray or brown spores on the leaves .
The blight is most common during warm , humid periods , commonly when temperature are between 70 and 77 ° F .
Botrytis blight is hard to kibosh once it gets established . geld out area of infection and use bleaching agent water ( 1 part family bleach to 5 voice water supply ) to disinfect your clippers between each snip . move out and dispose of any plant debris .
Prevent gray mold by spacing your plants to allow good air circulation and by water around the base of the plants , rather than spray their leaves and stems .
Rhizoctonia solani , the fungus responsible for this form of beginning rot , attacks during the warmer atmospheric condition of midsummer by invading at the stain rail line and transmit through the stems . If your alstroemeria formulate dry and wiry basal stems , Rhizoctoniais a probable cause .
To prevent this disease , insure that you plant in well - run out soil .
If your plants do show signs of this disease , lightly add some sand and modest rock-and-roll to the top 10 inches of land to further drainage and bestow some compost mulch to soak up any excess water . If the root rot continues to unfold , remove and dispose of the infected plant life .
Pythiumspp . is one of the most common forms of fungal disease in gardens and is notice almost everywhere . The spores attack the roots of plants by dissolving the out cortical layer which leads to decompose and blackening of the root .
Wilted farewell and stems , and stunted growth are symptom ofPhythium .
This fungus thrives in heavy , wet soils . Ensure you plant in well - draining soil , and void overwatering .
If you notice these symptoms apace enough , you’re able to successfully treat it by improving the drain of your soil . Try the George Sand and pebble method described above , or mix some pine barque into the soil .
Digging small trench along the side of flower beds may also avail to run out supernumerary H2O away .
If these measures do n’t check the spreading of the disease , you may be force to get rid of and toss away of the touched plants .
Mosaic viruses , spread by aphids and thrips can also attackAlstroemeria . The two most common are the tomato spotted wilt virus usuallyspread by thripsand theHippeastrum(Amaryllis ) mosaic virus ordinarily spread by aphid .
sign of the tomato plant spotted wilting virus include irregular occupation developing on the leaves mate with fleeceable , chickenhearted , or blank spots .
Hippeastrumis identifiable by moody and light green mosaic patterns appear on the leafage .
Mosaic virus such as these are not treatable .
If your works do develop symptom consistent with a virus , get rid of and dispose of all affected plant . Remember to disinfect any tools that you might have used with blanching agent weewee to keep the spread of this disease .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Something for Everyone
Choices bristle when it come to the vivacious colour combinations of Peruvian lily , from 10 - inch dwarf varieties to the renowned Ligtu hybrid series with specimen topping out as tall as five feet .
And in accession to being gorgeous , the deep stipple throats ofAlstroemeriaattract beneficial pollinator , for a racy backyard habitat .
Photos by Allison Sidhu © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . in the beginning publish on January 18th , 2019 . Last updated July 15th , 2023 . Product photo via Cool Springs Press , and Burpee . Uncredited top photo by Allison Sidhu . Other uncredited picture via Shutterstock . With extra writing and redaction by Allison Sidhu and Mike Quinn .
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