How to Cultivate and Take Care of Hippeastrum
Are you also tempted by the flourishing Hippeastrum in others' homes but don't know where to start? This ornamental flower, shaped like ingots, can bloom continuously for 3-4 months with proper care. Today, I will teach you how to create the golden growing environment for Hippeastrum from four key dimensions, turning your balcony into a mini garden.
Four Key Elements for a Bursting Hippeastrum Pot
Soil Formula Determines Survival Rate
Hippeastrum's fleshy roots are most afraid of waterlogging. It is recommended to mix coarse sand, decayed leaf soil, peat, and perlite in a ratio of 4:3:2:1, and add 5g of bone meal per liter of soil. Remember to pour boiling water thoroughly to disinfect the matrix and let it dry to a slightly damp state before potting.
Temperature Control to Extend Blooming Period
15°C is the ideal growing temperature in spring and autumn, and if the temperature exceeds 25°C in summer, move it to the north-facing windowsill immediately. In the winter heating period, be especially careful to maintain a temperature of 10°C at night to allow the flower buds to continue developing. After blooming, lowering the temperature to 8°C can extend the viewing period by 20 days.
Light Management Schedule
Use the segmented shading method: shade 50% from 10:00 to 15:00 during March to September, and after October, provide full sunlight. If you want the plant to bloom during the Spring Festival, you can start supplementing light for 3 hours daily from November, with the best effect when using an LED plant light 30cm away from the leaf surface.
Double Taboo of Watering
Using the immersion method to replenish water is safer. Place the pot in a shallow water tray for 10 minutes every Tuesday and Friday morning. Always keep a hygrometer handy, maintaining the humidity between 75-85%, which can be achieved by placing wet pebbles in a tray. Remember, absolutely no sprinkling during the blooming period!
Master these four care rules, and you can also harvest a golden cascade of Hippeastrum flowers. Remember to apply diluted fish protein fertilizer (1:1000) monthly and rotate the pot regularly for a fuller plant. Start practicing now and let the blooming Hippeastrum brighten your life!