Tigridia

Cultivation : Tigridia can be easily grown from bulbs. Burry the bulb in the soil for about 4 inches deep and while burying more bulbs or tubers leave adequate spacing between them. Burry the bulb in the soil in such a way that it’s top facing upward. The top of the bulb can be easily identified; hence its top will be more pointed. In case if it is difficult to identify its top, burry the bulb in sideway. The soil must be moist and well drained and never prefer waterlogged areas, which result in rotten buds and hence affect growth of plant. Keep the soil moist and don’t allow it to become wet. This plant prefers full sun to partial shade location for better result. Water generously after burying the bulb and the bulb shoots up in few weeks. Add fertilizers periodically for the best growth.

Cover the plant with mulch to maintain the moisture of the soil and also to protect from winter frost. The mulch covered will also provide nutrients for the plant. Provide adequate quantity of water for good health of plant.

It can also be grown in container or pots, but more care should be taken for growing in container. The container must be protected from wind and must get full sun and never over water it. The container must be filed with rich, well-drained soil. Bury the corms in the soil and water regularly. The corm shoots up in few weeks. Drainage hole is very necessary in container for proper drainage of soil. Wherever it may be planted container or ground, that must consists of many rooms for spreading of plants. These plants are best grown in clumps.

Propagation : Tigridia can be propagated by sowing seeds in containers. It must be placed in containers after it ripe. If growing corn lily plant in containers select a large pot with 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.

Also be propagated by dividing the tubers, bulbs, corms when the growth stopped due to winter frost or in spring. Take out the bulbs or tubers when the plant is in vegetative rest. The bulb or tubers taken out should be cleaned and must be stored in dry, cool and dark place. This preserved bulb can be planted later.

Varieties : Tigridia consists of nearly 35 species and among its entire species Tigridia pavonia is one which is more often cultivated whose flower will be 10 to 15 cm with red, yellow, orange or white bloch in centre. Some of the name of its species are Tigridia dugesii, Tigridia hallbergii, Tigridia chiapensis, Tigridia multiflora, Tigridia violacea, Tigridia pasiflora, Tigridia Mexicana, Tigridia violacea, Tigridia inusitata, Tigridia meleagris, Tigridia bicolour, Tigridia vanhouttei , Tigridia vanhouttei, Tigridia meleagris etc.

Disease and Cure : Spider mites, which are small spider like creature with 8 legs that thrive in hot, dry conditions, feed with piercing mouth-part, causes plants to appear yellow and stippled. Hence Leaf drop and plant death can occur with heavy infestations. Spider mites can multiply quickly. They also produce a web, which covers infested leaves and flowers. In order to prevent and control it, keep weeds down and remove infested plants and dry air will worsen the problem, so regularly water the plants. Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae. Concentrate more on undersides of leaves where spider mites generally live.

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. Water insufficiency leads to wither roots, loose its strength and lead to death of the plant.

To overcome from the trouble of gophers or squirrels eating bulbs sprinkle the holes with red pepper and use chicken wire to cover the bulb.

Wide-range fungicide must be used before the growth of bud in order to prevent the plant from fungal diseases that spreads very easily throughout the plant when left unseen and cause damage to whole plant due to high temperature swing. Use insecticide at the end of winter to protect the plant from the attack of aphids and cochineals. Preventive measures must be done when flower doesn’t bloom.

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