This is a genus of plants that is made up of a few 13 endemic species, which can usually be found in Mexico. Of all the species that belong to this genus, the one that is most frequently cultivated is the Tuberous polianthes, which we usually know by the name of tuberose.
We know the tuberose as a herbaceous, long-lasting and bulbous plant, which has the possibility of reaching a measure greater than one meter high.
Characteristics of tuberose
The bulb of this plant is brownish-brown in color, it has quite fleshy scales which serve as a storage for reserve nutrients.
The lower part, which is called the basal disc, grows a large number of roots that are short and with a rounded appearance. On the other hand, the flower stem originates from the center of said bulb.
The flower stem of this plant is simple, quite bright green in tone, straight and with a rounded appearance. All along the stem there are leaves arranged up to its end, in which we can find the inflorescence.
Tuberose leaves they are sessile, linear and at the same time ribbed, with a measurement of between 30 to 60 cm long and 1 to 1,5 cm wide. The leaves as well as the stem have a beautiful shade of bright green, but those near the base are a reddish color.
The flowers are gathered in the inflorescence that has the shape of a spike. This as we have already mentioned before, has a measurement that is between 30 and 60 cm long, which in turn is made up of an amount of between 8 to about 20 flowers for each spike that are arranged in pairs.
The flowers of the tuberose are hermaphroditic, of a small size, with a lot of fragrance, with a waxy appearance and they flower starting from the base until they reach the end of said spike.
These have a perigonium that is infundibuliform, which means that has a rather funnel-like shape, which has about six tepals. They are generally white in color, with a decreasing size starting from the base of the apex.
Nard care
Temperature
The temperature indicated for the tuberose to have an excellent development has to be found between 20 and 30 ° C in the day and between 15 and 20 ° C at night.
Regarding the temperature indicated for the floor, it must be found between the optimal measurements from about 17 to 20 ° C. When temperatures are well below 8 ° C, a paralysis occurs in each of the tuberose functions.
On the other hand, when the temperatures for the soil are very high, they can occur quite serious damage to the bulbs of said plant.
Humidity
The optimal amount of humidity should be between the percentages of about 60 to 70%. When the humidity exceeds the values we have mentioned, it can cause the tuberose bulb to rot. While when these these values are lower they can cause complicated plant development as well as an early opening of the flower buds.
Luz
This is a plant that requires a high light radiation so that its flowers bloom properly, for this reason in Mediterranean climates, they usually bloom for the months of June to September.
When the amount of light the plant receives is not enough abortion can occur in flowers.
Substratum
For this plant the substrate has to be quite deep, being at a measure of about 20 to 30 cm, with an excellent drainage capacity as well as to be able to retain water and with the necessary amount of organic matter that is quite fermented.
Its pH must be between 6,5 to 7, taking into account that tuberose is a plant that does not have the ability to withstand salinity.
Irrigation
To water this plant you have to do it regularly until the moment in which the first leaves appear, taking into account that the conductivity of electricity in the water has to be much less than 1,5g / L.
Starting from this moment, we have to do the irrigations much more frequently. When tuberose is in its flowering season, which is between the months of spring and summer, Irrigation in the same way must be maintained very frequently, being moderately reduced with respect to the remainder of the crop.
Plagues and diseases
Aphid
This is a plague that makes presence in the spring months and causes damage to flower buds, plant leaves and inflorescences as well. We can know that tuberose has aphids when we observe a curl as well as the deformation of each of those that have been affected.
Thrips
By this we mean a pest that causes damage to the floral stem of the plant as well as its inflorescences.
The symptoms that this plague produces are some white patches that have a silvery to lead-colored appearance, which are surrounded by little black specks, which are the excrement of these small insects.
The white fly
These are present when the temperature is 25 ° C. They have the ability to affect the underside of each of the leaves causing the appearance of yellow spots and the biggest consequence that they can cause is that these leaves wither.
The red spider
This is a mite that usually develops when the humidity is 50% and the temperature is 25 ° C. The characteristic symptom of this plague is presence of small dots that are of a yellow tone in the part of the upper part of the leaves of the plant.
The diseases of tuberose
Rotten root and neck
This occurs with the presence of a fungus that it proliferates especially in soils with higher humidity.
We observe the roots as well as the neck of this plant with necrosis, causing the plant to wilt or have a yellowish color. The most serious damage of this disease is cause the leaves to dry out and then fall off.