Nerine itself is not a plant, but rather more than twenty different species of them. They are bulbous plants and in the plant kingdom you can find a wide variety of them.
Do you know them? If not, then we are going to give you all the keys to their characteristics as well as the care they need to have them in your garden and enjoy them.
Characteristics of the genus Nerine
As we told you before, the Nerine genus is made up of bulbous plants. These are native to Africa and some of them are better known than others. The truth is that, although there are twenty species (some say twenty-five), only four or five are the most common in gardening.
They are also called Nerina, Cape of Good Hope Lily or Guernsey Amaryllis.
One of the characteristics of Nerine is, without a doubt, its flowering. Unlike other plants, these bloom in autumn, making them have a nice color contrast. In fact, it is said that the plants will give flowers, but there will be no leaves on it, but rather it creates them in spring and loses them in summer to leave only the flowers on the stems.
As for the flower, the plant will produce several umbels with flowers protruding from a stem (which will not have leaves, remember). This can easily reach fifty centimeters in height. For their part, the flowers will be red and white or pink.
As a curiosity, You should know that his name has a "mythological" origin. And it is said that it comes from Nereis, who was the Greek nymph of the waters. The person who named this genre, William Herbert, did so taking into account the story that was told in Africa, specifically on the island of Guernsey. Apparently, a ship full of boxes of these Nerine bulbs, which were going to the Netherlands, shipwrecked on the island and some of those boxes washed up on the beach, causing them to begin to develop and grow along the coast.
Some of the most common species to have in the garden are Nerine sarniensis, Nerine bowdenii or Nerine undulata.
Nerine Care
Now that you know a little more about the Nerine genus, Maybe you have ever come across these plants and found them very beautiful. It is not for less. But it is important that you know what they will need to develop correctly.
Of course, we warn you from now on that the bulbs, when you plant them, will need at least two years to flower. And that is as long as you provide it with all the necessary characteristics to do so (that is, you give it everything it needs to feel in its habitat).
In addition, If you have ever seen bulbs, in this case we have to tell you that size does matter. Because the bigger they are, the more likely they are to give two or more rods.
That said, how about we tell you what basic care you should take into account?
Lighting and temperature
The first thing you should keep in mind about Nerine is that they need to be outdoors. You can have them either in a pot or planted in the garden, but if possible always outside.
Now, That doesn't mean you can leave them in full sun and not worry about them. No. In reality, despite coming from Africa, these plants do not tolerate direct sun well, much less during the hours of greatest incidence.
Therefore, we recommend that you plant them in a semi-shaded area so that they have the greatest amount of light, but not direct.
In terms of temperature, it tolerates high temperatures relatively well. (always increasing irrigation, for example). But as for the cold, if the temperatures drop too much, it is normal that, to protect the bulb, you will have to add a little mulch once flowering ends.
Substratum
The soil to use will depend on the type of Nerine you have. Although it is said that it can adapt to different soils, from sandy to calcareous, if you really want to give it a good substrate then we recommend that you use an acidic and soft one.
However, you shouldn't just add that dirt and that's it. It is better that you mix it with a little drainage as well as hummus or manure (so that it is well fertilized).
Planting the bulbs is always done in spring or summer, and they are placed in the ground but without being completely buried.
For a while (two or three years) you should leave them there without moving them, even if the plant does not seem to thrive, or does not flower. Sooner or later it will, but they are not plants that flower the first year.
Irrigation
Nerine are plants that like water. But not much and not even in certain periods.
When the plant goes dormant (at the end of autumn and until early spring) it is advisable not to water it at all. But from spring to late fall you will have to do it.
Irrigation must be frequent, but not by adding a lot of water, but rather a little (so that the humidity it causes does not end up developing problems with fungi).
Subscriber
As for the subscriber, this is important. It is recommended to pay in summer and until mid-autumn with some liquid fertilizer (joined to irrigation water), every twenty days.
We recommend that you choose one based on algae extract and rich in potassium.
Plagues and diseases
Nerine are not plants that are overly affected by pests or diseases. But it does not mean that they cannot suffer from them.
In the case of pests, Aphids, as well as mealybugs, may be the most frequent in these plants. Also the snails that come to eat its leaves.
Regarding diseases, one of the most common is botrytis.
Multiplication
Finally, we talk to you about its spread. And this one is no different from other bulbous plants. In this case, and always allowing those two or three years of not moving the bulb, once you take it out, you will see that it has suckers. You can separate these or not.
If you separate them, Be very careful to make a clean cut and never plant them right away. It is necessary that two or three days pass for the wound to heal and not be able to harbor diseases that end up consuming the bulb.
As you can see, the Nerine genus is not complicated to have at home.. You can enjoy it by following the care it needs. Do you dare to get a plant?