Belladonna Lily

Cultivation : Belladonna lily plant can be grown easily from bulb. To plant with bulb, bury it in the soil in such a way that the bulb tips are just below the soil. While burying more bulbs place them 12 inches apart. The bulb must be buried in such a way that its pointed top is facing upward. The bulb will be in round shape, so its pointed top can be identified easily. When planted reversely there won’t be plant growth at all. The soil must be well drained and avoid water logged location, since it will form rotten bud. Water the bulb soaking the area after planting it. The leaves forms in spring and die down. The long erect stems forms then, which bears cluster of buds and flowers bloom as soon as bud formation.

It can also be grown in container, fertilizing is must when grown in container. Prefer early spring for planting in container. The container must have drainage hole and must be filled with rich, well-drained soil and place the container in full sun location. Bury it in the container soil in such a way that the bulb tips are just below the soil and for about 12 inches apart. The bulb germinates in few weeks.

Once when the plant finished its flowering reduce watering the plant, there will be the development of foliage. The leaves on gathering sunlight act as a nourishment for next coming years plant. Then the leaves become yellow and die back, then remove the foliage, let the plant to be rest for about 3 to 4 month before you water the plant or re-pot the plant.

Propagation : Belladonna lily can be propagated by dividing bulbs after flowering. Bulbs are lifted during winter season and it is divided and in early spring it should be replanted. Belladonna lily can also be propagated from seed; we can use freshly harvested seed to grow Belladonna lily plant. The seed must be sowed in containers. The container must consist of drainage holes and water it regularly and for good growth of plants add fertilizers. When the seeds finished growing to some extend take it out from the container and plant in the place you preferred in early summer. Prefer fresh seed for propagation, since it germinates readily.

Plant can be propagated by dividing the tubers, bulbs when the growth stopped due to winter frost and keep it in a place free from frost and replant it in summer.

Varieties : All varieties of Belladonna lily last for at least three seasons, a similar erect stems and a funnel shaped flowers. All its varieties shed its leaves in winter. The flower colour depends upon its varieties. Major varieties of Amaryllis belladonna flowers will be in pink colour. Some of its varieties flowers in rose, white or purple-rose with white colours. Some of the names of its varieties are Amaryllis belladonna purpurea, Amaryllis belladonna elata, Amaryllis belladonna jersey lily, Amaryllis belladonna latifolia, Amaryllis jaqus, Amaryllis longiflora, Amaryllis Lucida.

Disease and Cure : Wide-range fungicide must be used before the growth of bud in order to prevent the plant from fungal diseases, which spreads very easily throughout the plant when left unseen, and cause damage to whole plant. The fungal diseases are mainly caused by temperature swing. Use insecticide at the end of winter to protect the plant from the attack of aphids and cochineals. These treatments must be done when flower doesn’t bloom. This plant is free from pest and diseases and check slug and snail formation in plant, hence it will destroy the plant very easily but its formation is very rare in this type of plant.

Protect the bulb from winter frost by digging it before frost and store it in peat moss in winter. Water the plant regularly but excess water supply must be avoided, since it will cause the bud to rotten and plant get spoiled, hence appropriate amount of water should to supplied with an adequate days of gap between watering.

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