How to plant the seeds of Red Spider Lily
Today's sharing: A brief experience on how to plant the seeds of Red Spider Lily and the precautions for cultivating it, let's learn about it together.
Red Spider Lily, scientific name Lycoris radiata, also known as Ghost Fire Lily, Hell Flower, and Dragon Claw Flower, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Amaryllidaceae family. Legends say that this flower is a guiding flower, with magical fragrance that can awaken the memories of the deceased. Since the flower and leaves cannot meet, it is also known as the flower of no sentiment and no gratitude. Let's take a look at how to care for potted Red Spider Lily!
Growth habits of Red Spider Lily
Red Spider Lily is native to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and some parts of Southwest China, as well as the Matsu Islands. It is also distributed in Vietnam, Malaysia, and East Asia. It prefers sunny and humid environments but can tolerate semi-shade and drought conditions. It is slightly cold-resistant and has a strong vitality, with no strict requirements for soil. If the soil is fertile and well-drained, the flowers will be particularly abundant. Moreover, Lycoris radiata likes to grow in cemeteries, hence it is also known as the flower of the dead.
Propagation methods of Red Spider Lily
1. Bulb division method: The bulb division method is the simplest way of propagation. After dormancy or flowering, dig up the plant, remove the bulbils near the mother bulb, and plant them. They can bloom in about one or two years.
2. Cutting method: Make an octagonal cut at the base of the cleaned bulb, with a depth of about 1/2 to 2/3 of the bulb's length. After disinfection and drying in the shade, insert it into a moist matrix such as sand or perlite. After three months, adventitious buds can be seen at the junction of the scales and the basal plate, gradually forming small bulbils, which can be separated and cultivated into seedlings.
3. Tissue culture method: Use MS medium, with flower stems and ovary as explant materials. After culture, callus can be formed at the cut surface. Adventitious roots can be formed after one month, and adventitious buds after three to four months. Using flower stems and bulb scales as explant materials can also produce adventitious buds and bulbils.
4. Sowing method: Generally used only for hybrid breeding. Since the seeds have no dormancy, they should be sown immediately after collection. Under 20°C, radicles can be seen after 15 days. In natural conditions, only a few seedlings produce a leaf in the first growth cycle, and they can be transplanted once during the seedling stage. It takes about 4 to 5 years from sowing to flowering.
How to care for potted Red Spider Lily?
1. Soil: Red Spider Lily is not picky about soil, but it thrives best in loose, fertile, humus-rich soil. Wild varieties usually grow in dark and damp areas with red soil, accustomed to slightly acidic soil. When planting Red Spider Lily, use well-drained soil to prevent waterlogging, which can cause bulb rot.
2. Water: Red Spider Lily prefers moisture but can also tolerate drought. However, growing it in well-drained soil with adequate water supply will enhance its growth. When the topsoil is dry and appears grayish-white, it's time to water the plant. In summer, as Red Spider Lily enters dormancy, reduce the frequency and amount of watering, preferably stopping watering.
3. Light: Red Spider Lily likes a semi-shady environment but can tolerate direct sunlight. In summer, it enters dormancy, so it should be kept away from direct sunlight and placed in a cool environment.
4. Fertilization: Red Spider Lily is a bulbous flower with a long growing period. Before planting, sufficient organic fertilizer should be buried in the soil. Then, apply top dressing every two months, using homemade decomposed manure or a balanced fertilizer, with an emphasis on phosphorus and potassium to promote bulb development and flowering.
5. Temperature: Red Spider Lily prefers a warm environment but the highest temperature should not exceed 30°C, with an average daily temperature not higher than 24°C. In winter, the average daily temperature should be maintained above 8°C, with a minimum of 1°C, to avoid affecting the growth of the plant.
6. Diseases and pests: Common diseases of Red Spider Lily include anthracnose and bacterial soft rot. Before planting the bulbs, soak them in a 0.3% copper sulfate solution for 30 minutes, rinse with water, and then dry before planting. Spray 50% carbendazim wettable powder 500 times solution every half month for prevention and control. In the early stage of the disease, spray 50% benlate 2500 times solution.
The above is a complete introduction to how to plant the seeds of Red Spider Lily and the precautions for cultivating it, hoping it can be helpful to you. Don't forget to check out more experience and knowledge!