Hippeastrum - photophilous plant, however it is necessary to protect it from direct sunshine. Overheating of pot as it has negative effect on roots and bulb is undesirable to it. It is the best of all to place Hippeastrum at the window turned on the South, the southwest or the southeast.
Instruction
1. During vegetation the Hippeastrum needs a lot of light and heat, at the same time it transfers moderate dehumidification of the soil, than its overwetting better. Watering should be carried out accurately, trying that water did not get on plant bulb.
2. Air humidity does not play large role for Hippeastrum, but it is desirable to wash periodically from dust leaves under warm shower or to wipe them with soft sponge. During the summer period it is possible to take out plant on open air, it is only necessary to protect it from precipitation to avoid overwetting of the soil.
3. Substrate for Hippeastrum is prepared from peat, the rerotting humus, the cespitose earth and coarse-grained sand. Recommend to add superphosphate or bone meal also. The pot is chosen according to the bulb size, the distance between it and walls of capacity should not exceed 3 cm. Put drainage from gravel, crocks or haydite on bottom. Roots of plant are sensitive to the shortage of oxygen, in dense and heavy soil they die off.
4. Not less than 7 cm in the diameter recommend to choose qualitative large bulbs, they have to have no signs of defeat and red burns. It is not necessary to hurry to land them in pot at once, at first bulbs are put to the light place collum up and dried within 6-8 days. After that they can be put in clean sand that will stimulate development of roots. When landing the bulb is buried on half of its height.
5. That the plant has blossomed in the winter, the bulb is planted in the fall, place it in the warm place, but not watered, the sprout will not appear yet. After that the pot is transferred to window, and waterings carry out through pallet. At the same time use warm water, add it gradually, all earth lump will not become wet yet.
6. When the flower arrow reaches length of 12-15 cm, the Hippeastrum is watered with weak solution of potassium permanganate of light pink color. In 5-6 days introduce phosphoric fertilizers. As a rule, the plant blossoms in month after emergence of arrow.
7. After blossoming, till August, the Hippeastrum is watered and do fertilizing, alternating liquid organic and mineral fertilizers. In August the watering needs to be reduced, and in September only slightly to humidify earth lump. Dry leaves should be cut off. The dormant period will proceed 1.5-2 months, in October the bulb is replaced to the new soil.
8. It is optional to replace adult copies of Hippeastrum every year, it is possible to do it time in 2-3 years. If you leave bulb in the same place, it is necessary to replace soil layer with fresh nutritious mix from the sheet, cespitose and humous earth with sand addition.