Do you know the genus Lachenalia? It is about more than a hundred species full of color and shapes. But they are not always known, even though they are plants that can be flowering for almost 6 months.
Discover more about this genre and the care it needs to feel good and always have it beautiful.
How is the genus Lachenalia
The first thing you need to know about Lachenalia plants is that they are part of the hyacinth family., so you can already get an idea of what they are like.
It is a plant with long leaves, sometimes with one or two, other times with a few more, which almost always remain at the base of the soil. These form a rosette that can reach 20 centimeters in length. In addition, they have flowers, which can be of different colors and can be made on long peduncles. This flowering is quite long, being able to be more or less 6 months.
They are native to Africa, specifically South Africa and Namibia. As there are so many species (110) each one has a period of activity, although most of them usually start in autumn to be growing and flowering until spring.
Some species of the genus
As we told you at the beginning, the genus Lachenalia is made up of more than a hundred different species. Some of the best known or sought after are the following:
- Lachenalia bulbifera. Native to the Western Cape in South Africa. It grows from 8 to 30 centimeters and has only one or two leaves. But the most beautiful is the flower stem with red or brown flowers with green tips. It blooms from April to September.
- Lachenalia ensifolia. Also from South Africa. In this case, the flowers are grouped at the base, in the middle of its only two leaves that come out of the ground. The flowers are white, turning to mauve and have a certain aroma of almonds.
- Lachenalia pusilla. Unlike others, this plant does have four to six leaves with spots. In the center it has a rosette from which the stem of the flower (quite short) comes out, leaving the flowers at ground level. These are white.
- Lachenalia corymbosa. In this case the flowers are more striking, in roses with two red or fuchsia lines. It does not measure more than 12 centimeters.
- Lachenalia carnosa. It has two green ovate leaves that stay on the ground and a flower stem with small white flowers with a magenta band grows from the center.
- Lachenalia unifolia. It can reach from 10 to 35 centimeters high. It has only one leaf with green and maroon lines and the flowers are blue, pink or yellow with white tips. These are flared.
- Lachenalia nervosa. It has two veined leaves and a flower stalk bearing white, bell-shaped, drooping flowers with pink or reddish spots.
Lachenalia plant care
Did you like the photos you searched for of the Lachenalia species? Then maybe you want to have one in your house. And we must warn you that while some are easy to care for, there are others that are not suitable for beginners. In addition, it is a bit delicate because it needs a cool rest period and that it is in an environment where the air does not become stale and, much less, where there is no cigarette smoke.
But if you can avoid that, with the care that we are going to give you, you can have an orientation as to whether this plant is for you.
Location and temperature
There is no doubt that the best location of the Lachenalia is outdoors, but the truth is that it adapts well to interiors. Of course, in both cases it will need a lot of light, all that you can provide. But in no case should it be direct, but indirect.
As for the temperature, in winter it will need a cool temperature (not less than 10ºC), while heat is the worst thing you can give this plant (despite coming from Africa, it can't stand hot weather).
Of course, you should keep in mind that in its more than one hundred species it is possible that some are more adaptable to the hot climate and, in general, to any climate. You just have to find those that really fit your space (it's the best way to get them to succeed).
Substratum
It is necessary that you give it a light substrate, with a lot of drainage, and some soil that retains moisture.
A good mixture that can come in handy is to use a universal substrate with peat and a drainage such as bark or perlite so that it is very well oxygenated. In this way you will avoid caking as well as the accumulation of water.
Irrigation
Make sure you don't run out of water. When the soil dries up, the plant suffers a lot, so you have to check that it never lacks. Yes indeed, when watering you must allow the first layer of the substrate to dry a little. If you go too far with irrigation, it will also make you notice (dying the plant).
In addition to irrigation, the flowers will need water sprays or humidifiers to stay perfect.
Subscriber
When the buds are growing, and also during flowering, the plant demands a lot of nutrients. That is why you will have to give him a subscriber at least once a week.
Of course, if the earth has a lot of salts, the plant will suffer, so be careful with using one fertilizer or another (just like the earth).
multiplicationón
The Lachenalias are bulbous plants, so, over the years, it is possible that they create suckers that you can divide to have new plants of the same species. Of course, make sure to make the separation during the resting season of the bulb and let the cut heal before planting them so that the fungi do not kill them both.
As you can see, the Lachenalia genus is quite large and best of all, its species are not too difficult to care for. Do you have any at home or would you like?