Want to decorate your garden with exotic flowers, but are afraid of difficulties in planting and care? Eukomis (eukomis), the cultivation of which is possible even for a novice grower, will dispel these fears.
This native of the tropical rainforests of Africa has an original inflorescence similar to pineapple: lily-shaped flowers are tightly collected on a flower arrow, at the end of which a rosette of bracts leaves flaunts.
In this regard, he got his name "pineapple palm", "crested lily."
Eukomis has an unusual inflorescence similar in appearance to pineapple
Eukomis blooms in waves, in connection with which it retains decorative effect for a long time. In addition, despite its tropical origin, it is quite unpretentious in growing conditions.
Types of eukomis
Of 14 kinds of pineapple palm some of them are cultivated in gardening:
• tufted eukomis - blooms in greenish-white, cream, purple or pink flowers. The flower arrow reaches a height of up to 1 m. The leaves are covered with purple dots. Its cultivation in open ground is possible only in the southern regions;
• two-color eukomis (bicolor) - one of the most common species. It got its name for its original coloring: the flowers themselves are light green in color, and the edges of the petals, stamens and ovaries are burgundy, the leaves on the underside are covered with brownish spots. Peduncle grows to 0.6 m in height. Flowering begins in the second half of summer;
• punctate eukomis is a medium-sized species (0.3-0.6 m), the hallmark of which is the presence of brown-red specks on peduncles and the back of the leaves. On the brush, up to 100 pieces of flowers are formed;
• wavy eukomis - a compact, low plant (up to 0.45 m tall) with long leaves wavy along the edges without a characteristic mottled pattern. The inflorescence is dense, contains up to 50 flowers. Bracts also have a wavy shape;
• Autumn eukis - a short perennial (0.2-0.3 m) with a large bulb (8-11 cm). Blossoms in white or cream flowers. Blooms later than other species. Tolerates small frosts.
Reproduction and cultivation of eukomis (photo)
Pineapple palm can be grown from seeds and bulbs, children. The easiest and most effective way is bulb growing.
When buying bulbs in a specialized store, they should be carefully inspected. Healthy bulbs are resilient, there are no putrefactive spots on them, their bottom is dry, the scales are tight to each other.
If a crested lily is already growing on your site, then you can collect your own planting material. During flowering, children form on the main bulb. They are separated in the fall after digging the mother bulb for storage for the winter. Tear-off places are powdered with charcoal powder. After planting material is stored in a cool, dry room. With this method of reproduction, varietal characters of the mother plant are preserved.
In regions with a temperate and cool climate, eukomis is first germinated at home. In March, bulbs are planted in pots with light fertile soil. It is made up of equal parts of leaf and turf land, humus, peat, sand. Each bulb is planted in a separate pot, at the bottom of which they must make drainage (expanded clay, pebbles, broken brick).
Advice! The bulb is planted so that its apex is slightly higher or at ground level
Proper planting of the eukomis bulb
Planting material is pre-treated with fungicidal (Maxim, Fundazole, vitriol) solution for the prevention of fungal infections
After planting, eukomis is watered carefully. Watering is minimal at first. During the period of active vegetation, the volume and amount of irrigation increase.
Important! Water the bulbous plants along the edge of the pot.
It will be interesting for gardening enthusiasts to grow a pineapple palm from leafy cuttings. To do this, at the base of the outlet, the sheet is separated and cut into pieces 4-6 cm long. Cuttings are stuck to a depth of 2-2.5 cm in a loose mixture of peat (perlite) and sand. The planting bowl is moistened, covered with a film to create high humidity or placed in a greenhouse. Periodically, the cuttings are aired. The formation of young bulbs on the lower cut of the stem occurs after 2-2.5 months. After that, each plant is transplanted into separate cups.
Seed propagation of eukomis rarely gives positive results, since the seeds quickly lose their germination. For this reason, they are sown immediately after harvest. Plants from seeds begin to bloom only for 3-5 years of vegetation and often do not retain varietal characteristics.
Landing eukomisa
2-3 weeks before transplanting to the garden, plants must be hardened. They are taken out to a balcony or terrace and left for some time, daily increasing the period of "walk". As soon as the soil in the garden warms up (end of May), eukomis can be planted.
In the southern regions, pineapple palm trees are planted without preliminary germination at home.
When planting eukomis between plants leave 15-20 cm in a row and 30-40 cm between rows.
Eukomis Care
Despite its "exotic" eukomis in care is unpretentious. But this does not mean that this plant does not need care. When grown in open ground, he needs a well-lit place, protected from strong winds. In the shade, pineapple lily will not bloom or bloom sparingly.
Soil she prefers loose fertile with a neutral pH.
The irrigation regime of this exotic has its own nuances. After planting the bulbs, water them minimally, avoiding the ingress of water on them. As soon as the active growth of leaves begins, watering is gradually increased. During flowering or hot weather, plants are watered abundantly. After flowering, the pineapple lily begins a dormant period. Therefore, watering begins to be reduced and completely stopped when all leaves are yellowed.
Eukomis loves a delicious meal. They begin to feed him after the plant "woke up" and started to grow. Every 2 weeks it is watered with a solution of complex mineral fertilizer without nitrogen. When the flowering is over, feeding is stopped.
Since eukomis is a heat-loving plant, it does not tolerate wintering in open ground. After the leaves die off, the bulbs are dug up, disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or fungicide and dried. Store them in paper bags or canvas bags in a cool, dry place (cellar or refrigerator).
When growing eucomis in room conditions, it is left in a pot for a period of rest, and in the spring the soil is replaced.
Possible problems with planting and caring for eukomis
Untimely yellowing of the leaves, the appearance of brown spots with mold on them indicates the development of fungal diseases. This occurs with improper care, namely with excessive watering. In this case, the flower must be pulled out of the ground, inspected the bulb. If it is not damaged much, putrefactive spots are removed, and it itself is treated with fungicide and transplanted into new soil.
With a lack of lighting and low air temperature, the flowering of eukomis is slowed down or does not occur at all.
Of the pests, the pineapple palm is often affected by spider mites, aphids, and scale insects. To combat them, acaricides and insecticides are used.
