Alstroemeria Plant Care

 

The botanical name of Alstroemeria plants is Alstroemeria spp. and the plant is also called Peruvian lilies and lilies of the Incas. The Alstroemeria plants are flowering perennial tuberous plants from the mountain regions of South America that closely resemble lilies but they are not true lilies. The Alstroemeria plants produce beautiful flowers that can last 2 to 3 weeks as cut flowers in a vase. Actually the common characteristics of Alstroemeria plants include their size, growing twenty inches to just over three feet, and their spreading roots that usually colonize an area. The Alstroemeria plants actually prefer regular moisture of 1 inch of water per week, rich, well-draining soil, and full sun, although the plant will need shade from the sweltering afternoon sun. 

The Alstroemeria plants is listed as mildly toxic (class two, class four) to humans. According to the ASPCA, the plant is non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

Alstroemeria Plants Info

The common name: The common names are Peruvian lily, lily of the Incas, princess lily.

The botanical name: The botanical name is   Alstroemeria spp.

The family: The Alstroemeria plants belong to Alstroemeriaceae family.

The plant type: The Alstroemeria plant is a   perennial plant.

The mature size: The mature size is about one to three feet   tall, one to two feet wide.

The sun exposure: The Alstroemeria plant prefers full, partial sun.

The soil type: The Alstroemeria plant does well in a well-drained soil.

The soil pH: Acidic

The blooming time: The blooming time is summer.

The flower color: The flower colors are yellow, pink, orange, red, white, purple.

USDA Hardiness Zones: seven to ten.

The native area: The Alstroemeria plant is native to South America.

Plant toxicity: The plant is toxic to people. 

Alstroemeria varieties

The Alstroemeria plants are hybrids developed from Alstroemeria aurea as one of its parents. The Alstroemeria plant breeders focus on introducing exciting new colors for the cut flower market. The following are some of the varieties of Alstroemeria:

-         The Alstroemeria 'Fougere' variety: The Alstroemeria 'Fougere' varieties have large white flowers with purple flushes in the throat, streaked with burgundy. The Alstroemeria 'Fougere' variety grows twenty-four to thirty-six inches tall.

-         The Alstromeria 'Moulin Rouge' variety: The Alstromeria 'Moulin Rouge' varieties have cheerful orange and yellow tones that glow in the summer border and the bouquet. It tops out at about twenty-eight inches tall.

-         The Alstroemeria 'Mauve Majesty' variety: The Alstroemeria 'Mauve Majesty' variety has bright mauve-pink flowers with creamy yellow throats. This particular variety is a relatively tall variety, growing to around thirty inches.

-         The Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer' variety: The Alstroemeria 'Indian Summer' variety has coppery orange flowers and it grows up to thirty inches tall.

-         The Alstroemeria 'Princess Eliane' variety: The Alstroemeria 'Princess Eliane' variety has bright pink flowers with yellow and burgundy throats. The Alstroemeria 'Princess Eliane' is a small variety, nine to twelve inches tall.

How to grow Alstroemeria

The following are the main care requirements for growing Alstroemeria plant:

- Plant the Alstroemeria in the spring after all danger of frost has passed and also once the soil temperatures have reached about sixty degrees Fahrenheit.

- The Alstroemeria plant prefers full sun; however, hot climates require shade, or the Alstroemeria plant may not be able to produce flowers.

- Handle the tuberous plant roots gently; they are actually brittle.

- Just spread the tubers over a mound of soil and then cover the tubers with about two inches of soil.

- The plant grows fast and they often bloom in their first year, although some of the bare-root plants may not flower until their second year.

- Make sure you keep the soil moist; you can give about 1 inch of water per week.

Light requirement

The Alstroemeria plant flower most abundantly in full sun (6 to 8 hours), although in sweltering climates, the plant will appreciate some shade during the peak of the afternoon sun.

Soil requirement

The Alstroemeria plants like fertile, well-drained soil. You can actually accomplish both qualities by improving the soil for planting with an organic amendment, like compost or leaf mold. The Alstroemeria plants do well in most ordinary garden soil but they prefer a slightly acidic pH (5.5-6.5). The Alstroemeria plants really grow well in raised beds or using the lasagna gardening method. 

Water requirement

The Alstroemeria plants need regular moisture, especially as the summer temperatures heat up. Give the Alstroemeria plants at least one inch of water weekly or when the soil surface feels dry.

Temperature and humidity requirement

The Alstroemeria plants like temperatures in the sixty-five to eighty degrees Fahrenheit range. Temperatures in the upper ninety degree Fahrenheit can cause the Alstroemeria plants to produce blind stems—foliage without flowers. You can actually prevent these blind stems by planting the tubers in partial shade or in an area that receives only morning sun. 

In humid areas it is very important to provide the plants with adequate spacing to help air circulation that will carry away spores of fungal diseases like botrytis.

Fertilizer requirement

Just one feeding in early spring will prep the Alstroemeria plants for the growing season. You can use a balanced flower fertilizer. A steadier stream of nutrition (every 2 weeks) will actually keep the Alstroemeria plants flowers more productive in the garden. You can also provide fertility via organic additives like manure and compost tea for the Alstroemeria plants.

Pruning Alstroemeria plants

Cut the Alstroemeria plants back after blooming to prevent the Alstroemeria plants from directing energy into seed production. Where the plants have spread too much, you can pull up less productive stems to encourage the younger plants from the newly formed tubers to flourish.

Propagating Alstroemeria plants

The Alstroemeria plants can be propagated by dividing its roots or growing the plant from seed. In their native habitat of Argentina and Chile, the wild stands of Alstroemeria plants grow and spread into large colonies. You can control the plant spread by cutting the plant flowers for display in a vase, also preventing reseeding.

The easiest and most reliable Alstroemeria plants propagation method is dividing the tuberous roots in the early spring before the new plant growth begins. Here is how to do it:

Before you get started, you will actually need pruners, a shovel, and a new planting site.

Just use a good pruner to cut off the dead growth or remove the green growth to a height of six inches.

Then use a shovel to dig down some inches around the clump you want to divide. You may be unable to divide in large colonies without damaging the neighboring plants.

You need to lift the entire clump from the ground and then carefully brush off the excess soil. Make sure you take care not to break the brittle roots.

Just carefully cut apart the clumps. Each of the clumps should have at least 3 to 5 tubers.

Replant them immediately in the garden. Just dig a shallow hole, and then place the tubers over a small mound of dirt in the center of the hole, and then cover it with about two inches of soil.

Growing Alstroemeria plants from Seed

Growing Alstroemeria plants from seed is uncommon since the germination rates are actually low and the Alstroemeria seeds require stratification. It can also take several years for the seed-grown Alstroemeria plants to flower. If you are attempting to sow the Alstroemeria seeds, plant many of the Alstroemeria seeds since several will fail to germinate.

Here is how to propagate Alstroemeria plant from seed: 

Just collect the Alstroemeria plant seed pods after the flowers fade.

Then dry the seed pods until they are brittle and hard, and then break apart the seed pods to harvest the Alstroemeria seeds.

Soak the Alstroemeria seeds in room temperature water for twelve hours.

Sow the Alstroemeria seeds ¼ inch deep in sterile potting mix.

Just place the pot in a cold location (about forty degrees Fahrenheit) for about 1 month. This cold stratification is essential for the Alstroemeria seeds to germinate and sprout.

After the cold treatment, you can place the containers in a seventy degree Fahrenheit location with bright indirect light until the seedlings sprout. The seed germination rates are inconsistent, though it can occur from 7 days to 3 weeks, if at all.

Once the Alstroemeria seedlings have developed their true leaves, you can easily move the container into a location with full sun to grow them into mature plants.

You need to take care when transplanting them from pots, as the plants do not like to have their roots disturbed when they are young.

Plant the Alstroemeria seedlings in the garden eight inches apart.

Potting and Repotting Alstroemeria

The Alstroemeria plants can actually thrive in large containers; for most gardeners, this is the preferred method of growing the plant. You can pair the plant with trailing plants that enjoy the same growing conditions, like sweet potato vines, million bells, or love-lies-bleeding. The Alstroemeria plants may need staking to remain upright in pots.

You can actually use any commercial potting mix for your Alstroemeria plants, and select a container at least eight inches wide and twenty-four inches deep. Any container material will be fine, but make sure the pot has ample holes for good drainage. Even larger containers are recommended in warmer climates where the Alstroemeria plants remain outside year-round.

The Alstroemeria plants cannot be moved indoors to grow as houseplants, but in colder climates you can easily bring the containers indoors for winter and then store them as dormant plants in a cool, dry location. You can actually dig up, divide, and then replant the tubers at the end of winter; make sure you use fresh potting soil when replanting. Also make sure you keep the soil dry to avoid rot.

Pest and disease control

The Alstroemeria plants are remarkably free of serious diseases and pests, however the plant can be affected by some of the usual garden pests, including mites, slugs, aphids, and whiteflies. You can easily use insect soap or slug bait to prevent damage.

Some serious diseases that can affect the Alstroemeria plants include:

Botrytis (gray mold) disease: this will appear as furry, gray-brown spores on the Alstroemeria plant's leaves and the stems. This fungal disease is really hard to cure, although you can prevent the disease spread by spacing the Alstroemeria plants well apart to improve air circulation and also watering the plant at ground level rather than overhead spraying. 

A variety of fungi disease can cause root rot, resulting in the leaves and stems wilting and then collapsing even though the Alstroemeria plants get enough water. You can easily prevent root rot by amending the soil so it drains well. Just allow the soil to dry out to help the plant to recover. Actually severe rot will cause root blackening; you need to discard or destroy the plants with blackened, decayed roots.

Common Problems with Alstroemeria plants

The Alstroemeria plants are not temperamental plants and they are generally easy to grow. Though, some can experience a few common problems that are usually easy to rectify.

The plants won't stay upright: The Alstroemeria plants have profuse flowers and rather spindly stems, so it's common for the plant to flop over. This is a common problem for the Alstroemeria plants species that is grown as cut flowers, and it is easily handled by staking up the flower stems.

Well-watered stems and the leaves wither: Actually this is a classic sign of root rot caused by a variety of fungi disease. It is most common in warm, wet weather, you can actually prevent root rot by making sure the soil is porous and well-drained.

The plants have stopped flowering: It is common for the Alstroemeria plants to gradually stop flowering as the tubers get old, even though the foliage continues to flourish. Generally, this happens as the Alstroemeria plants reach 5 or 6 years of age. When this happens it is time to lift and divide the tuberous roots.