Eucomis

The genus Eucomis (Eucomis) has about 15 not very stable bulbous plant species. They are rosettes of large basal leaves. From the rosette grows a peduncle with a long cylindrical spike consisting of six-petalled, often greenish-white flowers. Autumn eucomis (Eucomis autumnalis), or wavy eucomis (E. undulata), is a species with a height of 30-40 cm. Leaves with a wavy edge are curved outwards. At the top of the spike-shaped inflorescence, a bunch of light green bracts is formed from greenish flowers. The flowering period falls at the end of summer. Eucomis bicolor (E. bicolor) is a plant 60 cm tall. The leaves are large and oblong. In summer, an ear of greenish-white flowers is formed, with a purple border and purple stamens. The bracts at the edges also have a purplish color. There is a garden form with cream-white flowers. Eucomys crested (E. comosa), or Eucomys punctata, is the most common species, growing up to 40-60 cm in height. Its lanceolate leaves are green, with brown spots on the underside. In late spring and early summer, fragrant creamy-white flowers with a purple center bloom. Pale-flowered Eucomis (E. pallidiflora ) is a species with xiphoid, slightly wrinkled leaves up to 70 cm long. The powerful flower stalk grows up to 75 cm in height. The flowers are pale green.

The genus Eucomis (Eucomis) has about 15 not very stable bulbous plant species. They are rosettes of large basal leaves. From the rosette grows a peduncle with a long cylindrical spike consisting of six-petalled, often greenish-white flowers.

Autumn eucomis (Eucomis autumnalis), or wavy eucomis (E. undulata), is a species with a height of 30-40 cm. Leaves with a wavy edge are curved outwards. At the top of the spike-shaped inflorescence, a bunch of light green bracts is formed from greenish flowers. The flowering period falls at the end of summer.

Eucomis bicolor (E. bicolor) is a plant 60 cm tall. The leaves are large and oblong. In summer, an ear of greenish-white flowers is formed, with a purple border and purple stamens. The bracts at the edges also have a purplish color. There is a garden form with cream-white flowers.

Eucomys crested (E. comosa), or Eucomys punctata, is the most common species, growing up to 40-60 cm in height. Its lanceolate leaves are green, with brown spots on the underside. In late spring and early summer, fragrant creamy-white flowers with a purple center bloom.

Pale-flowered Eucomis (E. pallidiflora ) is a species with xiphoid, slightly wrinkled leaves up to 70 cm long. The powerful flower stalk grows up to 75 cm in height. The flowers are pale green.

Cultivation

Plants of the genus Eucomis are grown in the open ground in flower beds, as well as in pots on balconies and terraces. They are planted in the air in the spring, when there is no longer a danger of frost, in drained sandy loam or loamy soil, filled with complex fertilizer in the amount of 20-30 g/m2 or organic fertilizers at the rate of 3-4 kg/m2. The depth of planting bulbs is 10 cm, the distance between them is maintained 30-40 cm. When growing in pots, bulbs are planted in autumn in a mixture of peat and coarse sand with the addition of organic fertilizers, such as manure at the rate of 200-300 g per bucket. In spring, once every 15 days, a complex mineral fertilizer is diluted in water for irrigation for fertilizing. If the climate is mild, the bulbs can be left in the ground for the winter, covered with straw or peat, and when grown in moderately cold climates, after the leaves turn yellow, they are removed from the ground and stored in a dry place until spring. By when growing in pots for the winter, they are removed to the house.

Plants of the genus Eucomis are grown in the open ground in flower beds, as well as in pots on balconies and terraces. They are planted in the air in the spring, when there is no longer a danger of frost, in drained sandy loam or loamy soil, filled with complex fertilizer in the amount of 20-30 g/m2 or organic fertilizers at the rate of 3-4 kg/m2. The depth of planting bulbs is 10 cm, the distance between them is maintained 30-40 cm. When growing in pots, bulbs are planted in autumn in a mixture of peat and coarse sand with the addition of organic fertilizers, such as manure at the rate of 200-300 g per bucket. In spring, once every 15 days, a complex mineral fertilizer is diluted in water for irrigation for fertilizing. If the climate is mild, the bulbs can be left in the ground for the winter, covered with straw or peat, and when grown in moderately cold climates, after the leaves turn yellow, they are removed from the ground and stored in a dry place until spring. By when growing in pots for the winter, they are removed to the house.

Location

Eucomis prefers a place in the open sun, in any case it should be very well lit.

Temperature

Resistant to very high air temperatures, below 4-6 °C is not tolerated.

Watering

During the spring-summer period, they are watered regularly, then the intervals between watering are gradually increased, and in winter they are watered a little.

Transplant

Transplanted once every 2-3 years in the spring in a new pot slightly larger than the previous one.

Care

Remove damaged parts of the plant and faded flower-bearing stems.

Reproduction

Propagate by sowing seeds in boxes, which are filled with soil consisting of 2/3 of peat and 1/3 of sand, and kept at a temperature of 16-18 °C. To wait for flowering, it will take 5 years. The plant will bloom much faster if the babies formed around the main bulb are used for reproduction. In the spring, they are separated and planted in boxes, and as soon as they form roots, they are planted in the ground. In autumn, you can make cuttings. Cuttings are placed in a mixture of sand and agroperlite and kept indoors until spring at a temperature not lower than 10-12 °C, after which they are planted in a permanent place.

Propagate by sowing seeds in boxes, which are filled with soil consisting of 2/3 of peat and 1/3 of sand, and kept at a temperature of 16-18 °C. To wait for flowering, it will take 5 years. The plant will bloom much faster if the babies formed around the main bulb are used for reproduction. In the spring, they are separated and planted in boxes, and as soon as they form roots, they are planted in the ground.

In autumn, you can make cuttings. Cuttings are placed in a mixture of sand and agroperlite and kept indoors until spring at a temperature not lower than 10-12 °C, after which they are planted in a permanent place.

Diseases

Eucomice bulbs in waterlogged soil often rot. Use suitable land, then this will not happen. If the air humidity is too high, gray rot may appear on the leaves, peduncles and flowers. You need to monitor watering, you can treat it with drugs against gray rot.

Acquisition

Bulbs of plants of the genus Eucomis are not easy to find. You need to buy them in advance, looking at flower shops or gardening centers. Potted plants can be found in flower nurseries that specialize in bulbous crops.