Zephyranthes: all the intricacies of caring for an upstart at home

Zephyranthes is a perennial bulbous flowering plant, popularly called “upstart”.

Interesting! This exotic flower is unique in that it shoots out a peduncle very quickly and is in a hurry to bloom literally the next day. In nature, zephyranthes (upstart) develops in high humidity, so it prefers to grow in the tropics.

The leaves of the plant are long and narrow, the plant looks compact. The flowers resemble stars and bloom on thin, graceful stalks. Based on the color of the petals, 4 types of crops are distinguished: white-flowered, red-flowered, yellow-flowered and two-colored. The upstart flowers do not delight with their appearance for long, a maximum of a week, and then fall off.

Medicinal properties of the plant

The exotic plant is rich in various organic substances. It is often used in medicine: tinctures are made from the leaves to treat colds, liver diseases, diabetes, tuberculosis, and joint diseases.

Origin and description of the species

Zephyranthes is a genus of perennial bulbous plants that belongs to the amaryllis family and has about 90 species, including hybrid varieties suitable for indoor and outdoor use. This amazing flower grows in wet places, swamps and peat bogs of tropical regions of Central and South America, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and the West Indies. Local residents happily cultivate it in areas near their homes.

Zephyranthes has several “folk” names: upstart, west wind flower, rain lily. The thing is that as soon as the rainy season begins, the previously dormant zephyranthes suddenly suddenly releases arrows topped with flowers similar to lilies, which bloom literally before our eyes. Flowering of the upstart begins unexpectedly and lasts very briefly - on average, 2 days. The plant received its official name, which literally translates as Zephyr flower, due to the fact that its growing and flowering period occurs during the appearance of the western winds (Zephyr is the god of the warm western breeze).

Zephyranthes flowers are crocus-shaped, wide open, with stamens of equal length. The color of the petals can be different - from white to purple. Zephyranthes look best in a group consisting of a large number of planted bulbs. During times of drought, plants are dormant, without leaves or shoots.

Zephyranthes has a “brother” - gabranthus, which is also called the Argentine rain lily. How not to get confused?

The zephyranthes peduncle is always crowned with only one erect flower

Table: differences between zephyranthes and gabranthus

The peduncle of gabranthus can be decorated with from one to four flowers inclined towards the stem

Gabranthus first belonged to the genus Zephyranthes, but since there are enough differences between these plants, it was separated into a separate genus. Zephyranthes and gabranthus belong to the amaryllis family.

Varieties

Based on the color of the flowers, there are 4 types:

1. White-flowered. The bulb is 2–3 cm in diameter, the leaves are narrow, the flowers are white, about 6 cm in diameter. Feels good in cool rooms. Blooms in May-September.
2. Yellow-flowered. The bulb is 3 cm in diameter, the flowers are funnel-shaped, yellow. Grows well in open ground in the Central and Central Black Earth regions. It blooms in December-January on the windowsill, in May - in open ground.
3. Red-flowered. The flower is 8 cm in diameter, the bulb is 3 cm in size. It blooms in April-July.
4. Two-color. The bulb is elongated, 3 cm, with a dark outer film. The flowers are usually white, with a reddish-green exterior. Blooms in January. Suitable for moderately warm rooms.

Zephyranthes is successfully cultivated in our country both indoors and in the garden. It grows outdoors in subtropical regions of Russia, namely in the Krasnodar Territory. The plant is unpretentious, develops well, requires minimal care. Any novice gardener can handle growing it.

At home, all types of marshmallows grow equally well, but on windowsills you can most often see the popular indoor varieties described below.

Snow-white zephyranthes (Zephyranthes candida) . Belongs to the white-flowered group. The bulb reaches a size of 3 cm. The leaves of snow-white zephyranthes appear along with the peduncle. Its flowering period is from July to October. Great for cool to moderately warm temperatures (22-25°C).

Golden zephyranthes (Zephyranthes aurea) . This plant belongs to the yellow-flowered group. Its bulb is round, the yellow flowers are funnel-shaped at the base, then expand. Blooms from December to January. Zephyranthes golden is very popular for planting in open ground in areas with warm climates. He is a welcome guest on our windowsills.

Pink zephyranthes, or pink (Zephyranthes rosea) . One of the most popular varieties. It is a red-flowered species and has very bright purple-pink flowers.

Zephyranthes robusta . Its name speaks for itself. The bulb reaches 4 cm. The flowers are large, the length of their light pink petals can reach 7 cm. It blooms in April - July. The dormant period is pronounced and runs from September to November. Red-flowered group.

Zephyranthes versicolor . Zephyranthes versicolor belongs to the group of bicolors. The bulb is 3 cm in diameter and has a dark outer film. The flowers are reddish on the outside and creamy white on the inside. The length of the petals is 5–6 cm. It blooms in January.

Of course, there are many more varieties of marshmallows: of the 90 existing in nature, about 10 are grown at home.

Photo gallery: zephyranthes white, pink, powerful and other popular varieties

Golden Zephyranthes belongs to the group of yellow-flowered plants.

Zephyranthes pink belongs to the red-flowered group

Zephyranthes versicolor belongs to the group of bicolor

Zephyranthes snow-white belongs to the white-flowered group

Zephyranthes atamascus begins to bloom in March-April

Zephyranthes Anderson is popular among gardeners

Zephyranthes keeled blooms in April

Zephyranthes Fostera is native to Mexico.

Zephyranthes Lindley has pink funnel-shaped flowers.

Zephyranthes Traub's flowers look like a white pointed star

Zephyranthes Drummond flowers have bicolor petals: pink on the outside, white on the inside.

Zephyranthes blooms with light pink flowers

Zephyranthes blossom

Violet - flower care at home

With several types of upstarts, you can see flowering plants all year round, as some varieties bloom for only one season, others for two seasons. The flowering of the plant also depends on care.

Important information! Often, zephyranthes buds form at the same time as the leaves.

If zephyranthes does not receive regular care at home or external conditions are not favorable enough for it, then it simply will not bloom. The upstart does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature or low room humidity. This information is for those who are wondering why indoor zephyranthes does not bloom. In addition, the plant will not bloom if you do not apply fertilizer, because fertilizing stimulates the formation of buds.

Care

Watering and fertilizing

Watering zephyranthes must be done regularly as soon as the top layer of soil dries. You should not allow water to stagnate in the bowl, otherwise the root system may rot and the flower itself may become sick. After flowering, zephyranthes are watered only after the earthen clod has dried. When the leaves wilt, stop watering.

In very dry and hot weather, the plant can be sprayed with a spray bottle.

Zephyranthes are fed once every two weeks with liquid fertilizers for flowering bulbous plants or universal complexes in the dosage specified by the manufacturer. Feeding begins at the moment when the first leaves appear and continues until they wither, so that the bulb can gain strength.

During the dormant period, the plant is not fertilized.

Flowering period

When exactly the zephyranthes blooms depends on many conditions:

• varieties;
• individual characteristics of the flower;
• external conditions;
• duration of the rest period.

Some species release arrows along with the appearance of leaves, others - after. But each peduncle is always crowned with only one flower. Zephyranthes blooms for no more than two days. Several arrows can be hidden in one bulb, so the impression of continuous flowering is created.

Marshmallow blooms look amazing, but only last two days

After the zephyranthes has faded, the peduncle needs to be trimmed, leaving only 5–7 cm. When it dries, carefully unscrew it.

Dead parts of the plant should be removed in a timely manner so as not to leave material for the development of infections.

Why zephyranthes does not bloom and how to make it bloom

It happens that the upstart is dormant and does not intend to release flower stalks. What could be the reasons for this?

1. Spacious pot: when there is a lot of space, the bulb “fattens”, so it is necessary to transplant it into a tighter pot and not rush to free the plant from its daughter bulbs. Many gardeners do not replant zephyranthes for five years.
2. Incorrect location of zephyranthes. If a flower is exposed to the rays of the scorching sun all day or is always immersed in the shade, it will not bloom.
3. High humidity during the dormant period: the plant “in hibernation” does not need it at all.
4. The flower is “fed” with fertilizers: the more, the better - this opinion is wrong, everything should be in moderation.
5. The bulb is too deep: planting rules are written above.

Video: zephyranthes blooming

Rest period

The dormant period for zephyranthes usually falls on September-November or December-February. When the leaves begin to wither and fall off, watering should be stopped. Place the pot with the bulbs in a cool (12–14 °C), dark place with low humidity for 3 months. It is recommended to cut off dried leaves to avoid infection of the flower.

It is not necessary to remove dormant bulbs from the pot.

Table: optimal home conditions

Features of care

Different types of plants do not begin to bloom at the same time. This period may well begin in May and last until the end of October. All flowers love sunlight, which is necessary for them to grow and bloom well. In the winter season, flowers that have lost their leaves should be moved to a dark room and watering should be stopped. It is enough just to periodically moisten the soil so that the bulb does not dry out. In the spring, after new foliage begins to form, the pot is again moved to a lighted windowsill. If the type of plant you are growing does not lose leaves during the winter, you should keep it in a cool but bright room. It should be watered, but not very often.

The flower responds well to feeding measures. During its growth and flowering, it is recommended to organize them once every week and a half. Mineral fertilizer components are perfect for this. The plant comes from the tropics, so it respects high humidity. To do this, its foliage should be sprayed with water in the summer. Bulb transplantation must be carried out annually, performing this operation on the eve of the beginning of the growing season.

Reproduction methods

For this you can use seeds or daughter bulbs. The second option is more convenient and is often used, since a lot of bulbous material is produced for planting. With properly organized planting, the plant can begin to bloom as early as next year. Planting is carried out in the autumn season. Planting boxes are used for this.

The soil is prepared from humus, sand and turf soil. All components are taken in equal shares. The composition should be fertile and loose; drainage should be provided. Planting of bulbs is carried out in such a way that the short ones are completely in the ground, and the long ones are allowed to have part of the neck on the surface. Up to ten bulbs can be planted in one container.

The seed method is used much less frequently. It should be sown immediately after ripening, since the planting material quickly loses its viability. To produce seeds, artificial pollination must be performed, after which the seed fund will mature within two months.

The soil is prepared according to a well-known method, but one share of peat must be mixed into it. The soil is spilled and leveled. Seeds are sown at intervals of three centimeters. The container is covered with plastic wrap and placed in a shaded place, the temperature in which is not lower than twenty-two degrees. It is necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out and moisten it if necessary. Shoots will begin to appear no earlier than in three or even four weeks. Zephyranthes grown in this way will flower only in the third growing season.

Problems with flowering and methods for solving them

Lack of flowering in zephyranthes can happen for several reasons - improper organization of wintering, low lighting, excess of fertilizer elements, deeply buried planting. The reason for the lack of flowers may be bulbs that have rotted due to excess moisture. Various kinds of parasites also affect flowering.

The flower is considered a capricious plant. Therefore, when growing it, it is necessary to strictly observe all care requirements, properly organize wintering, watering and fertilizing, while not forgetting about temperature and light. When growing zephyranthes, you need to pay due attention to it. And it will delight you with its elegant flowering.

Solving growing problems

Table: common mistakes in care

Table: diseases and pests of zephyranthes

Photo gallery: diseases and pests that can affect zephyranthes

Spider mites appear when the air in the room is too dry

The amaryllis mealybug lives on bulbous scales

Whitefly appears in humid, warm climates

False scale insects are capable of very rapid reproduction

Fusarium is a dangerous fungal disease that causes rotting of the bulb and roots

Due to the fact that marshmallow bulbs are poisonous, the plant is quite resistant to disease and often dies due to improper care. In rare cases, zephyranthes can become ill with fusarium.

How to care for marshmallows

Even a novice gardener can figure out how to care for an upstart at home; it is only important to know the dormant period of each type of marshmallow, since all crops rest differently. You need to trim off faded buds and dry leaves after the bush has finished flowering.

Favorable conditions: light and air temperature

It is vital for marshmallows to receive the maximum amount of bright sunlight. A pot with an exotic plant should be placed in a place with sufficient sunlight. For normal development, growth and flowering, the upstart requires an air temperature in the range of 20-29 °C. In the summer heat, the crop can be taken out to the balcony or even temporarily planted in open ground. Winter for flowers should be as cool as possible (at a temperature not exceeding 12 ° C).

Watering and air humidity

There is nothing complicated in the rules for caring for white marshmallow: at home, the main thing for a flower is to provide moderately moist soil, especially after replanting.

Something to remember! To prevent rotting of the flower bulb, you need to loosen the soil to a depth of 2-3 cm as often as possible, especially after watering.

The water must be defended. In addition, caring for white marshmallows at home requires a high level of indoor air humidity. Zephyranthes loves to “bathe”; to saturate the leaves with moisture, it is worth simply spraying the flower with water: it will be useful for it.

The culture loves moisture very much

Top dressing

Zephyranthes need to be fed at least once every six months. The easiest way is to use a ready-made fertilizer complex specifically for bulbous plants. Liquid fertilizers are very convenient to use, because you only need to dilute them with water and spill the substrate, but you can also periodically fertilize the flower with a solution of ash. Upstart bushes should be enriched after emerging from dormancy.

Reproduction

Planting seeds

Seeds can be purchased at the store or raised yourself.

It is better to sow marshmallow seeds immediately after collection.

1. Removal of seeds. To do this, you need to pollinate the flower. At the time when the pistil blades open, pollen from the stamens of the same or another marshmallow should be transferred to the pistil with a disinfected brush made of natural materials, and then cover the flower with gauze.
   

   After ripening, it is advisable to sow the seeds immediately - their germination rate at this moment is almost 100%. The longer the seeds lie, the lower the germination rate.

2. Substrate preparation. The soil mixture is the same as for bulbs, plus 1 more part of peat.
3. Sowing seeds. Bury them into the soil 1 cm at a distance of 2–3 cm from each other, cover them with a plastic bag or glass, and put them in a warm place. Shoots will appear in about 20–25 days.
4. After the emergence of seedlings, remove the shelter, move it to the brightest place with a temperature of 24–25 ° C, avoid direct sunlight.
5. When the bulbs grow, in the spring they can be planted or transplanted into another bowl.

Zephyranthes grown from seeds will bloom only in the third or fourth year after germination.

Separate the daughter bulbs

Zephyranthes bulbs reach sizes of 3 cm, rarely 4 cm

This is the simplest and most common method among both beginners and experienced gardeners. When transplanting zephyranthes in the spring after a dormant period, you can see many daughter bulbs, which should be separated from the mother bulb, provided that these children have their own formed root system. Try to separate carefully, without disturbing the integrity of the bulbs and roots. Care and soil are the same as for an adult plant.

You can plant 10 bulbs in one bowl. Such seedlings bloom the next year.

Transplanting zephyranthes

Hemanthus - flower care at home

In order for an exotic plant to grow comfortably at home, it must be replanted annually. Transplanting the upstart can be done at any time of the year, but only after flowering. A pot for replanting will need to be wide (to accommodate more than 3 bulbs), but not very deep, with holes in the bottom.

Important! The bulbs must be removed from the pots very carefully to avoid damage to the roots.

Preparing bulbs for transplantation requires careful handling

Before transplanting, you need to clean the bulbs and their roots from the soil, it is advisable to carry out a light disinfection treatment. At the bottom of the pot you need to fill a drainage layer, for example, expanded clay. The upstart will enjoy sitting in a loose soil mixture consisting of three equal parts: turf soil, humus (or compost) and sand. Prepared soil should be poured onto the drainage and the bulbs should be placed at a distance of 3 cm from each other. It is important to pay attention to the roots, that is, carefully straighten them. Next, you need to fill the container to the top with the substrate.

Must be taken into account! The neck of the bulbs does not need to be completely covered with soil; it should be above the surface of the ground.

The next step is watering the upstart. The water should be at room temperature and pre-settle. The potted plant should be placed in a place where the sun's rays freely penetrate all day. At first, watering should be limited to prevent the bulb from rotting.

Reviews

The plant is not capricious, it only requires watering, you need to water it moderately once a week or a little twice a week. Maintenance is, in principle, not difficult; the most that is needed is to remove the yellowed stems and periodically loosen the soil. I replant it twice a year, in autumn and spring, next spring I will divide the bush, since it has grown very much. It blooms beautifully, I like it very much, such cute bells, the color is delicate, white, and the flowers themselves are very delicate, it’s a pity that they just fade quickly, they bloom for a maximum of two days, but new flowers appear every day, so it’s not a problem, and always You can save this beauty in the photo.

MaryaHr88 https://citykey.net/review/ochen-nezhnye-i-krasivye-tsvetochki-u-nego

White zephyranthes produces a lot of flowers, I threw them away one after another, the flowers are large, delicate, but it’s a pity that they fade quickly. There is absolutely no fuss with it, the main thing is to replant and seat it on time.

maryahramlyuk https://otzyvy.pro/reviews/otzyvy-komnatnoe-rastenie-zefirantes-25580.html

Between flowering periods, Zephyranthes Lindleya looks completely unremarkable: narrow long leaves and nothing more. As soon as it starts to bloom, you can’t take your eyes off the plant. It is easy to care for. The plant reproduces by bulbs.

Natatka https://ru.badgood.info/reviews/content/_1074