Eucharis is a flowering bulbous plant from the Amaryllis family. It is found in Central and Latin America. The largest number of species lives in the Eastern Andes, in the western part of the Amazon, therefore eucharis is sometimes called the "Amazonian lily." In colder regions, the plant is grown as an indoor flower. Tender and stylish eucharis blooms large snow-white flowers, and during the dormant period it pleases with “varnished” foliage, which is why it is very popular among flower growers.
Appearance
Eucharis is a perennial, evergreen plant. Its grassy shoots with a height of 40-60 cm form sprawling thickets. The rhizome is represented by a large round or oblong bulb with a diameter of about 4-6 cm. Oval dark green foliage with a shiny surface grows in the form of a rosette from the ground itself. Leaves have long erect petioles. In total, 2-7 leaves grow from a single bulb, not more than 55 cm long and up to 20 cm wide. Parallel relief veins are clearly visible on a slightly wrinkled surface.
Eucharis blooms most often in February and April. A fleshy tubular peduncle up to 80 cm long grows from the center of the bulb. Its top is decorated with an umbrella inflorescence, consisting of 3-10 buds. Flowers bloom in turn. Each of them has a long, narrow tube with oval, wide-open petals. Their edges are pointed. Six petals are arranged in 2 tiers. In the center is a fused crown with stamens that grow to it. Each flower lives up to 10 days. Its petals are painted white, and the crown with stamens can acquire a greenish or yellow hue.
After pollination, the fruits ripen - fleshy three-chamber seed boxes with small elongated seeds. Under favorable conditions, flowering is repeated 1-2 more times during the year.
Types of Eucharis
In the genus of eucharis, scientists distinguish about 20 plant species. Three of them are especially popular.
Eucharis is large-flowered. The most popular plant among flower growers forms bulbs with a diameter of 3-6 cm. Oblong leaves with long stalks are painted in dark green. An umbrella inflorescence of 3-6 snow-white flowers with a diameter of about 12 cm blooms on a fleshy peduncle 60-80 cm long. The flowers exude an intense pleasant aroma. White petals surround a greenish-white crown with prominent brown anthers. Flowering can occur in late spring, summer and early winter.
Eucharis is white. A plant with an egg-shaped bulb up to 5 cm in diameter grows broadly oval, petiolate leaves 40 cm long and not more than 15 cm wide. The leaf plate is narrowed at the petiole and at the end. The brownish-green peduncle ends with an umbrella of 6-10 snow-white fragrant flowers that bloom in March. Pointed petals are wide open and surround a creamy white crown.
Eucharis Sandera. A rather large spreading plant is fed by oblong bulbs with a diameter of about 7 cm. Oval dark green leaves are almost 30 cm long and up to 18 cm wide. The petiole itself reaches 15 cm. 2-3 large flowers or up to 6 smaller ones bloom on an upright peduncle buds. Snow-white petals surround a yellowish crown. The variety blooms in February.
Breeding methods
Eucharis can be propagated by seed or by separating children. Since Amazonian lily gives birth to many children, gardeners rarely resort to growing plants from seeds. For this, fresh ripened seeds are used, which are immediately sown in the sand-peat soil immediately after harvesting. The container is covered with a film and placed in a room with ambient light and room temperature. With lower heating, seedlings appear faster. Ventilate and spray the soil regularly. After seed germination, seedlings are gradually accustomed to growth without shelter. It is better to water the plants more often, but in small portions. The soil should have time to dry out by a third. When young eucharis grow 3-4 real leaflets, with great care they are transplanted into separate pots of 2-3 plants. Flowering is expected in 4-5 years.
With a spring transplant of eucharis, several smaller children can be found near the mother's bulb. They are carefully separated from each other, trying not to damage the thin roots, and planted in separate pots with a sand-peat mixture. After germination of the bulbs, they are transplanted into the soil for adult plants. Watering should be very moderate, and the lighting diffused. Flowering of children occurs in 2-3 years, but large specimens can bloom in the same year.
Features of planting and care
Eucharis, although it belongs to exotic plants, is rather unpretentious at home.
Transfer. Young flowers need annual soil renewal, and larger plants can exist in one pot for up to three years (only the topsoil can be replaced). All manipulations are carried out in March, at the end of the rest period. The pot should be small, because in a tight container flowering occurs more often. Up to 10 plants can be planted in one pot with a diameter of about 30 cm. When planting on the surface of the soil should look out the top of the bulb. Soil for eucharis is made up of the following components:
- soddy soil;
- compost;
- coarse sand;
- leaf soil.
Drainage material is necessarily poured to the bottom of the tank. After planting, the soil is lightly compacted and moderately watered.
Lighting. Eucharis needs bright, diffused light for at least 3-4 hours a day. It can be placed on the windowsill of the western or eastern window. In summer, plants shade from the midday sun.
Temperature. In summer, during active growth, the optimum air temperature is + 20 ... + 25 ° C. In November-January, it must be lowered to + 13 ... + 15 ° C. Then comes the period during which the flower stalks are formed, so the temperature must be maintained at + 18 ... + 20 ° C. Plants can be grown in cool rooms, as it does not respond very well to heat. At the same time, it is carefully protected from drafts and sudden changes in temperature. It is undesirable to take the flower outside.
Humidity. Eucharis develops normally with normal humidity, but with gratitude responds to periodic spraying and bathing. During the flowering period, water procedures are limited. If moisture gets on the flowers, spotting develops.
Watering. For eucharis, it is important to maintain intervals between irrigation, so that the top layer of the soil has time to dry out. Most often, irrigation is carried out during the flowering period (up to two times a week). The rest of the time, the plant is watered less often, however, the earthen coma is not completely dried out.
Fertilizer. Feeding eucharis is needed only during flowering and vegetation. Use special mineral compounds for flowering plants. They are bred in water and poured into the soil at a distance from the shoots. After withering flowers, fertilizers are not applied.
Pruning. The advantage of eucharis over other amaryllis is that it retains decorativeness even after flowering. Its bright leaves in lush rosettes shine in the sun and do not fall during the dormant period. After the last flower withers, the peduncles are cut. Perhaps drying of 1-2 leaves, but no more.
Possible difficulties
Bulbous plants are prone to fungal diseases, especially with dampness and excessive soil moisture. Eucharis periodically suffers from gray rot and spotting. In this case, it is necessary to cut off all the affected areas and carry out fungicide treatment (Champion, Topaz, copper sulfate).
From parasites, thrips, scutes and spider mites bother the plant. Most often, they settle on a weakened eucharis. At the first signs of insects, they are treated with an insecticide (Fitoverm, Actellik).
If you had to deal with such a problem as the yellowing leaves of eucharis, this indicates a disease of the plant. This happens with a sharp change in conditions of detention. The bulb suffers and the nutrition of the flower is disturbed. Possible causes include too dry soil or a sharp increase in watering, exposure to drafts, or a rapid change in temperature. Providing the plant with favorable conditions and protecting it from any changes, you can return to its previous appearance.
If eucharis does not bloom, it is important to create the right dormant period for it. To do this, the flower is rearranged in a cool, darker room, reduce watering and stop fertilizing. After 4-5 weeks, the flower is returned to normal conditions. Such a shake often leads to the formation of a large number of flowers.
Signs and superstitions
Eucharis is a noble house-friendly plant. It spreads beneficial energy, and during the flowering period adds to the household cheerfulness and spiritual comfort. The plant takes away negative emotions. It stimulates in children a craving for knowledge, broadening their horizons and the manifestation of new abilities. The flower is truly a symbol of the guardian of the hearth. Not without reason in Colombia he is woven into a bride’s wreath to protect the girl and the future family from envy and contention.
