Lycoris flower (Lycoris) - the value of the plant in various cultures
Content:
Licoris is a flower that is common in China, India and Japan. The adorable plants are grown both in the garden and indoors. Licoris (spider lilies) does not require complex care, which allows even inexperienced growers to grow it. Exquisite appearance and pleasant aroma can bring a touch of comfort to any interior.
Description and history
The length of the lycoris leaves reaches 30-60 cm. The width of the foliage is within 1-1.5 cm. The height of erect stems does not exceed 90 cm. Each of the plants is capable of producing 5-7 peduncles. Fragrant flowers are painted in various shades:
- orange;
- yellow;
- golden;
- purple;
- white.
Lycoris
Licoris is naturally endowed with two types of flowers:
- with long stamens, which exceed the dimensional characteristics of the perianths several times;
- with short stamens, which are slightly raised above the petals.
The fruits of the spider lily are three-channel boxes with seeds. Given the low percentage of seed germination, growers recommend vegetative propagation of flowers.
Why can't flowers and leaves of an amazing flower meet? To explain this phenomenon and to answer the widespread Internet request "lycoris meaning of a flower", you can read the legend set forth in the "White Lotus Sutra of the Highest Teaching."
Legend of origin
In ancient times, there were natural spirits that took care of different parts of the magic plant. According to the legend of the lycoris, a spirit named Saga kept the green mass of a spider lily, while Manju tended the flowers. They were forbidden to meet, but the spirits decided to break the will of God and after the first meeting they fell in love with each other.
The angry God sent a curse on Saga and Manju. From that moment on, the foliage and flowers on the plant could never meet again. As soon as the lycoris flowers begin to bloom, the green mass falls off. At the time of the formation of new leaves, the flowers wither. There is an opinion that after meeting in hell, the lovers vowed to meet each other at the time of reincarnation and never part again. Alas, this did not happen. Everyone in Japan knows this legend.
Varieties of lycoris
There are many varieties of the spider lily. Below are the most popular varieties that growers grow on their plots.
Licoris scaly
An ornamental crop, the height of which can exceed 65 cm. Near the surface of the soil, plants have leaf rosettes, which consist of green leaf plates. The width of the belt-like leaves is in the range of 10-30 mm. At the end of summer, large inflorescences, consisting of 7-9 buds, begin to bloom on long peduncles. The oval petals are slightly bent back and painted in a light lilac shade. Thin stamens and ovary are located in the center.The flowering period of the scaly variety lasts 10-14 days.
Licoris radiant
Lycoris radiata) in Latin) is a perennial whose height reaches 40-70 cm.In the spring months, the plant produces rosettes of narrow foliage. The width of the leaf plates does not exceed 0.5-1 cm. Closer to September, flowers are formed on the spider lily, painted in pink and terracotta shades. On the petals there are narrow and long antennae, slightly deviating downward. In the central part of the ornamental culture, a bunch of shoots with wavy edges is concentrated.
Licoris blood red
A compact perennial, the height of which is within 40-45 cm. The width of small foliage barely reaches 1-1.2 cm. The green mass that has blossomed in April begins to turn yellow at the beginning of summer. In the last weeks of August, bright scarlet buds form on lush peduncles. The diameter of the buds can exceed 4.5 cm. Licorice red is often used by landscape designers when landscaping a site.
Licoris golden
An ornamental culture that is not highly frost-resistant. Flowers can withstand frosts down to -3 ° C. That is why plants are grown exclusively at home. The bushes can grow up to 55-60 cm. The tubular flowers are yellow. Their diameter reaches 9-10 cm. Each inflorescence consists of 5-6 flowers. Flowering begins in June.
Amazing flowers
Features of care for lycoris
In order for the plant to please with abundant flowering, and not be susceptible to diseases, it is important to observe the basic rules of agricultural technology when growing. Below are the features of caring for a spider lily.
Lighting
When choosing a landing site, you should give preference to well-lit areas. When growing flowers in apartment conditions, it is necessary to provide the bushes with additional diffused supplementary lighting. For this purpose, phytolamps should be purchased.
Preparing for winter
At the beginning of autumn, when flowering is completed, the aboveground parts of the plants die off. They can be cut off without regret. Flower bulbs do not need to be dug out. Watering stops completely, and the soil where the bulbs remain is covered with a small layer of dry foliage or needles. The layer thickness should be up to 9-12 cm.
Temperature
The ornamental culture belongs to the thermophilic category. It is advisable to keep the room temperature within 21-27 ° C. Seedlings can be planted in open ground only during the period when the threat of night frosts has passed.
Air humidity
The recommended humidity level in the room where the flowers are grown is in the range of 50-55%. Excessive dryness negatively affects the appearance of plants, therefore experts recommend using moisturizers during especially dry periods. You can also systematically spray spider lilies.
Top dressing
Before planting lycoris bulbs on an open bed, you should take care of introducing organic fertilizing into the soil. After that, it is recommended to feed the flowers with liquid mineral fertilizer every 14 days.
Watering mode
It is very important to systematically moisten the soil in which the ornamental culture grows. The soil must not be allowed to dry out. It is necessary to moisten the ground 2-3 times a week. After the foliage begins to wither, the plant can not be watered.
The soil
In order to ensure rapid growth and active development of licorice, it is necessary to select areas with loose, light or loamy soil for planting seedlings / bulbs. To grow seedlings, you should use specialized store soil mixed with a small amount of peat.
Flowering features
At the beginning of autumn, the bulbs of the culture throw out peduncles, which in just a few days reach a height of 40-50 cm.On the peduncles, one by one, funnel-shaped flowers with a large number of stamens begin to open. Flowering lasts about 11-14 days. Once this process is complete, foliage blooms on the spider lilies, which does not dry out even during the cold winter months. Leaf plates die in early summer, before flowering begins.
Mystical plant
Seed planting
For the seed method of reproduction of lycoris, it is necessary to adhere to the recommendations of experts regarding planting work:
- A prepared container with drainage holes is filled with a mixture of perlite, fertile soil, vermiculite and peat moss.
- The seed is scattered over the surface of the soil mixture and sprinkled with a small layer of soil.
- The soil is moistened, and the container is covered with a film material.
- Containers with plantings are transferred to a room where the temperature reaches 21-24 ° C.
After 2-3 weeks, seedlings can be expected to appear.
Vegetative breeding method
Every year, a beautiful perennial forms daughter bulbs, which growers actively use for propagation.
Work order:
- After digging the bulbs out of the ground, separate them very carefully.
- The resulting bulbs are transplanted into prepared wells. The soil for planting should be prepared on the basis of peat, sand and leafy soil.
Flowering can be expected the next year after planting.
Licoris in landscape design
Pests and diseases
Flowers, whose history is associated with a tragic legend, are not susceptible to diseases or pests. The only thing that can sometimes harm the plantings is an invasion of daffodil flies. You can cope with them by treating the lily planting area with an insecticidal agent like Aktara and Calypso.
Use in landscape design
Landscape designers often use licorice to decorate flower beds and garden paths. Ornamental culture can be planted near bushes:
- begonias;
- crocuses;
- fern.
If you do not believe in all the legends and the meaning of lycoris, you can decorate your garden plot with this amazing perennial. Why not plant begonia bushes along with licorice along the paths? By properly caring for the plant, you can grow it indoors, adding a touch of sophistication to the interior of your apartment.
