Such a flowering plant like sprekelia (Sprekelia), which is also called spreckel, is directly related to the amaryllis family. In this genus there is only 1 representative - the most beautiful sprekelia. In the wild, it can be found in the mountains of Guatemala and Mexico. The people call this plant "lily of the Templars", as well as "lily of the Aztecs". Mayor of the city of Hamburg in the middle of the 18th century. presented a bulb of this flower to Karl Linnaeus as a gift. After some time, the plant was named after him.
In Europe, this flower first appeared in the distant 1593. Then it was brought by the Spaniards from North America and was called the Indian daffodil with red flowers.
The entire outer side of the bulb is covered with scarious, red-colored scales. The leaves of the plant are linear, and they reach 2 centimeters in width and 40 centimeters in length. It happens that the base of the leaves has a reddish color. The flowers are attached to a rather high hollow peduncle inside.
The corollas of the flowers have a rich red color and irregular shape, which makes them very similar to orchids. The throat of the flowers is slightly green and has small scaly outgrowths. The flowers produce nectar and it is noteworthy that, in nature, small birds pollinate sprekelia. Peduncles and foliage begin to grow at the same time (sometimes leaves appear a little later).
Flowering lasts from April to June. 20 days after the formation of the peduncle, the plant begins to bloom. The fruit box formed after flowering contains a lot of flat-shaped seeds.
This flower is extremely rare to see grown at home. The fact is that a few days after the flowers bloom, flowering stops, and the leaves do not carry decorative value. However, there are flower growers who love plants of the amaryllis family, and they will be interested in sprekelia.
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Sprekelia care at home
Dormant period
Such a flower has a very long dormant period, which lasts from November to March (about 6 months). In autumn, you need to water the plant very little or stop watering altogether. When the sprekelia sheds foliage, its bulb is placed in heat (17-20 degrees) for storage.
How to plant an onion
The bulbs are planted in early spring (in March). To do this, use a fresh soil mixture. Plant it so that the upper part rises above the soil surface.Watering after planting should be poor, and when flower arrows form, then it should be significantly increased, and also at this time mineral fertilizers should be added to the water.
Dredge and top dressing
Almost any earth will do. During the period of growth and flowering, the flower is fed once a week. With the beginning of autumn, feeding is stopped. In order for the flowering to be longer, the flower must be placed in a cool place.
Reproduction methods
You can propagate by seeds, as well as by children. Seedlings will bloom for the first time 3-4 years after planting. Spreckelia is looked after in the same way as for hippeastrum.
This flower can be purchased at the flower shop by prior order. You can also place an order for this flower on the Internet.
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