In order for amaryllis bulbs to produce the desired magnificent flowers, both professional planting and the right initial care measures are important. These instructions give a practical explanation of how to start successfully cultivating Ritterstern bulbs in pots.

The bulbs are the poisonous powerhouses of the amaryllis

Planting knight star bulbs - It depends on the right depth

The correct planting of amaryllis bulbs requires a modified approach compared to classic flower bulbs. The linchpin of the perfect planting technique is that the tubers must not be completely submerged in the ground. Please choose the pot size so that there is a distance of 4-5 cm between the bulb and the edge. How to do it right:

  • Fill the pot three-quarters full with a mix of cactus and standard soil over a drainage made of expanded clay
  • Only plant half of the amaryllis bulb in the middle, maximum two-thirds
  • Press the substrate down firmly for a good ground contact

Choose a bright, warm window seat that cannot be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time. A temperature level between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius is ideal at this location.

This care program leads to the premiere of flowers

After planting, only water amaryllis bulbs with a sip of water, which you put in the saucer. Water regularly from below only when the flower stems have gained about a hand's breadth in height. If the water supply starts too early, a knight star will only put out leaves in the worst case and keep the flower under lock and key. Please only water so much that the substrate surface dries well in the meantime.

Typically, amaryllis bulbs sprout their leaves later. When the first leaf tips peep out of the tuber, start supplying nutrients. To do this, administer a liquid fertilizer for onion plants every 14 days until July.

Amaryllis bulbs are poisonous

Unfortunately, the fairytale beauty of an amaryllis flower has a dark side. The entire plant is permeated by highly toxic alkaloids. The toxins in knight star onions are found in particularly high concentrations. The intentional or unintentional consumption of a few grams causes severe symptoms of poisoning, which can be fatal in children and the elderly. The poisonous hippeastrum is therefore not suitable for cultivation in the family household.

Contact threatens dermatitis

If a knight star thrives out of the reach of children and pets, the plant still poses a health threat. If you come into direct contact with the plant sap, this can result in painful eczema and irritation. Therefore, please always wear gloves when caring for and planting work.

tips

Amaryllis bulbs prefer to spend their autumn dormancy in a dark basement room at temperatures of 5 and 9 degrees Celsius. Store the tubers individually on an air-circulated shelf without the skins touching. A large physical distance to the fruit that is to ripen is of the utmost importance. Apples, pears or tomatoes give off the ripening gas ethylene, which encourages a knight's star onion to sprout prematurely.

Category:

Vegetable garden