“Bring me, father, a scarlet flower” or how to care for Vallota

Description of the flower

This unusual plant received its name from the French botanist Pierre Vallot. The elongated bulb produces belt-shaped flat leaves, no more than 3 cm wide and about 60 cm long. A distinctive feature of the flower is that the bulb in the upper part, like the base of the foliage, has a reddish tint. Peduncles, characteristic of all representatives of this family, have no leaves, grow up to 30 cm and bear from two to eight bright purple bell flowers, about 7 cm in diameter each.

For home cultivation, unusually colored forms with salmon and white flowers have been bred.

Wallot gained popularity as a decorative flower at the end of the 17th century, and since then its bulbs have become available far beyond its natural habitat. Thanks to its unpretentiousness, it takes root in any conditions, easily forming daughter bulbs.

The root system of this perennial is a bulb. It has an oval shape, scaly, brown color. Quite small in size. The sword-shaped leaf, more than half a meter long, is dark green in color, but the petiole is purple. The peduncle does not have sepals, and the inflorescence is presented in the form of an umbrella, which has from 3 to 9 single flowers.

Of its entire family, only wallot has a green-purple color palette of the leaf blade and light crimson bulbous scales of the underground root formation. A distinctive feature of wallot is the unusual way of budding daughter bulbs. In her, they come to the surface of the soil with the help of repulsive legs, unlike other representatives of the genus, in which the children appear in the depths of the earthen clod. As the wallflower bulb grows, a root ending appears, which buries the daughter formation into the soil and allows it to exist independently.

Possible difficulties

Wallot is an unpretentious plant, but there are still some nuances when growing it:

1. It is necessary to monitor the temperature regime - if the temperature is elevated (more than 25 degrees), it is necessary to move the plant to a cool place.
2. Protect the flower from drafts and avoid sudden changes in temperature .
3. Maintain watering and fertilizing schedules to prevent rot and provide strength.
4. Providing flowering conditions: suitable container, dormant period and elimination of children.
5. Be careful when replanting necessary - there is a risk of damage to the roots.
6. Regular inspections of the plant to prevent damage by diseases (fusarium and gray rot) and pests (spider mites and scale insects). If necessary, chemical treatment.
7. Observe personal safety measures when working with a poisonous plant.

Slight difficulties exist when growing any indoor plants. And the African beauty is no exception. But still, it is quite unpretentious, rarely susceptible to disease and reproduces simply and quickly. These advantages, combined with magnificent flowering, make it one of the favorites of flower growers around the world.

Home care

Vallota prefers to grow on well-lit eastern window sills, and even direct sunlight is not contraindicated for it. However, in hot weather, when the temperature in the room rises above 25 ºC, the plant should be shaded from the sun.

In the warm season, the wallot reacts normally to the temperature usual for human habitation - 20-25 ºC, but during the rest period it is kept in a cool room where the temperature does not exceed 10-12 ºC. The lower temperature threshold for a plant is 5 ºC, but it cannot stay in such cold for a long time. Drafts and sudden temperature changes are contraindicated.

Location and lighting

Being of African origin, wallot needs bright sunlight. Therefore, south-eastern and south-western windows are suitable for growing flowers. An unpretentious plant is capable of developing even in partial shade, but in this case it will lag behind, and you may not be able to wait for flowering at all. In winter, you can create artificial lighting to compensate for the short daylight hours.

Wallota is a fairly light-loving flower. When choosing a location, it is important to know that the flower prefers windows facing east.

Temperature

Suitable summer temperatures range from 20-25 degrees. In winter, cooler temperatures with a range of 10 to 12 degrees are suitable.

In summer, you can safely take the flower out onto the balcony: fresh air will do you good. However, as soon as the night temperature approaches +10 degrees, the bulb should be brought to a warm place to avoid freezing.

Air humidity

In hot conditions at temperatures exceeding 25 degrees, the plant must be constantly irrigated with a spray bottle. However, drops of moisture falling on flower petals will have a bad effect on their delicate surface. Wallot leaves must be kept clean at all times. A damp cotton cloth is quite suitable for these purposes.

The plant has no complaints about air humidity, but additional spraying will be useful. It is important to periodically carry out hygiene by wiping the leaves on which dust accumulates over time with a damp cloth, and also remove wilted flower stalks.

Watering

Like all bulbous plants, wallot should be watered very carefully, avoiding waterlogging of the soil. During active growth, the plant should be watered only after the top layer of soil has dried. During winter dormancy, the lower the temperature of the bulb, the less often it is watered. However, remember that wallot does not tolerate the dying of leaves, since it is their condition that signals an incorrect watering regime.

The soil

Such a beautifully flowering plant as valotta needs increased soil nutrition, so the mixture suitable for it includes as many as 4 parts of fertile soil from under the leaf litter. The remaining parts are made up of humus, turf and 2 parts sand.

Wallot grows well in a mixture of peat and sand, but for nutritional reasons you can dilute the soil with garden humus; the plant loves organic matter. Sand will also not hurt, as it will add “airiness” to the earthen mixture. The proportion of peat, humus and sand can be 2:2:1. We make the soil ourselves. With proper maintenance, the bulb grows quickly, entwining the earthen ball with roots and forming many children, so replanting is necessary every 2-3 years into a slightly larger pot.

Feeding and fertilizers

Liquid store-bought fertilizer intended for flowering indoor plants should be used once every 14 days from spring to autumn during the flowering period of the plant.

From May to mid-autumn, once every two weeks, cirtanthus is fed with a solution of organic matter or complex mineral fertilizer for flowering indoor plants; the rest of the time, fertilizing the wallote is not needed.

Transfer

Vallotta should not be frequently replanted into fresh soil. Its underground parts are very sensitive to damage during transplantation, and the process of rotting may begin. Only when the bulb grows so large that it does not fit in the pot can it be moved to a larger container. Since daughter bulbs greatly deplete the adult bulb, it is best to separate them immediately. The upper part of the mother bulb does not need to be buried. Babies will bud on it, which can be removed as they grow.

To avoid rotting of the bulb, which is caused by excess moisture, the bottom of the pot is filled with a small drainage layer consisting of crushed bricks or pebbles. When a plant stays in a pot for a long time, the surface of the soil is sometimes covered with a white (reddish) coating of salt; these are deposits due to the high hardness of the water. They get rid of salinity by replacing the top layer of soil.

• The bulb is planted, buried in the ground no more than one-third in height.
• To keep the pot tight, which stimulates flowering, the distance from the bulb to the sides of the pot should not exceed 3-4 cm.
• Remember, the plant does not tolerate transplantation easily, so do not be alarmed that after planting the bulb will not show signs of growth for a long time. First, the wallot grows fragile roots, and only then the above-ground part.

After planting, shade the beauty, protecting it from direct rays. However, even rooted plants prefer diffused light, reacting to excess light with sunburn.

Which pot would be best for wallot?

Which pot would be best for wallflowers is a question that worries many gardeners. If a flower is planted for raising children and further propagation, then it will feel best in spacious flowerpots with good drainage. If you want to see its flowers of extraordinary beauty as soon as possible, then you should select a slightly cramped pot.

Description of the plant: what is wallot?

The wallot flower is most valued for its flowers, collected in umbels. Umbrellas are located on a hollow, strong, scaleless peduncle up to thirty centimeters long, which appears from the center of the bulb. The bulb is brown in color and has an ovoid, elongated shape. On the peduncle there are from three to nine flowers, ranging in color from orange to dark red. The size of the wallot flower reaches five to six centimeters in diameter, reminiscent of lily flowers. Consist of 6 petals and stamens, one pistil. The aroma is not strong. The leaves are long, up to 40 centimeters long and 3 cm wide, dark green. Arranged in the form of a fan.

Growing conditions

This plant is a long-liver; with good care it can live up to twenty years. For a comfortable stay, the recommended air temperature is + 20...+ 25 degrees, however, during the rest period - in winter, the temperature should be lowered to + 10... + 15 degrees. It may be necessary to spray wallote only in hot weather.

For abundant and regular flowering of wallflower, the pot with the plant should be placed on windows facing south, southwest or east. To prevent sunburn, it is recommended to shade the wallot.

Due to poor lighting, north-facing windows are not suitable. In summer, flowers in pots can be placed on balconies or verandas. However, it is necessary to protect the wallot from sudden changes in temperature, rain and hot sun.

Features of flowering

Flowering begins in mid-summer. The whole process happens very quickly, from the birth of the peduncle to the opening of the buds, fifteen to twenty days pass. The peduncle shoot grows up to two centimeters per day. The blooming flowers of the wallot do not last long, up to five days, but since they open one by one, flowering continues for several weeks.

Preparation and flowering period

With proper care, the villota bulb produces flower stalks twice per season. The life of one stem with flowers is 5 days. At the same time, 2-3 buds can bloom at once.

In April, the wallflower will begin to wake up, this can be seen by the growth of new leaves. In this case, you can slightly increase the temperature, but avoid heat, which the wallot cannot tolerate. 20-24 °C is quite enough.

Feeding is resumed, which must be done every 14 days. The simplest and most practical option is to use ready-made complex liquid fertilizers for flowering plants.

When the plant produces a peduncle, and this will be in late spring or summer , feeding does not stop; you can replace the main preparation with a phosphorus-containing one that stimulates flowering. Watering is carried out moderately, but do not allow the top layer to dry out. The ideal condition of the soil is always slightly moist; excess water in the pan must be drained.

Care errors

Vallota is quite hardy and patiently endures the “experiments” of a novice gardener. However, its decorative effect may suffer significantly. The main problem is the lack of flowering, for which, in fact, wallot is grown.

Table: why the plant does not bloom, the leaves turn yellow, dry out or fall off

The plant does not bloom

In a pot that is too large, the cirtanthus may not produce flower stalks.

Why doesn't the wallflower bloom?

The bulb is abundantly overgrown with children and “forgets” to bloom. Another reason may be that the wintering room is too warm.

The following steps will help resolve the problem:

1. Transplanting the bulb into a cramped pot, removing the children.
2. Providing a period of rest under the required temperature conditions.
3. Place the pot on a windowsill with bright, diffused light.

If you water the wallot regularly and follow all the recommendations, then it will definitely delight you with bright buds.

Drying, falling leaves of the wallflower

The normal condition of the leaves is considered to be slight wilting. If the temperature is too high, their tips may turn yellow. A sharp change in temperature may cause flowers to wilt.

If the leaves fall off after flowering, this is normal . They are cut off along with the flower stalks of the plant.

Reproduction of the valotta flower

There are two suitable ways to propagate valotta: seed and with the help of children (daughter bulbs). Wallot is rarely propagated by seeds, since in this case the plants bloom only after reaching 4-5 years of age. Therefore, the daughter bulb can bloom already in 2-3 years of life. It is better to separate the “babies” when transplanting an adult plant. They are planted in separate containers, being careful not to damage the roots! For growing, narrow containers, no more than 12 cm in diameter, are used; in wide pots, wallots bloom less readily.

It is better to transplant and separate the children in the spring before the flower stalks appear, otherwise it is advisable to postpone it until after flowering. When purchasing a bulb, pay attention to its integrity, absence of signs of rot and disease, hardness and even color. If you purchase a vegetative specimen, inspect the leaves; they should be elastic, even, without dark tips. Wallot is an unpretentious flower; in loose soil and good lighting it blooms regularly every year.

Reproduction by children

Separated children are placed in individual small containers, deepening them only two-thirds. They do not need to be watered often, especially in the first months. The bulbs will grow and begin to bloom only after 2 years.

• To do this, young bulbs are separated from the mother’s head and planted in small containers with a diameter of up to 9 cm.
• There is no need to deepen the child by more than half its height.
• Afterwards, only infrequent watering is recommended.

This method of propagation is more popular among lovers of house plants compared to seed.

Propagation by seeds

Wallot should be sown in mid-autumn in moist soil under glass. Further care will consist of regular ventilation and irrigation at a temperature of 16-18 ºС. Sprouts will appear in about a month. Seedlings that are already six months old should be picked for the first time. Small bulbs should be planted in separate pots, completely immersed in the ground. After 2 years, the young bulbs are transplanted so that the upper part is on the outside. The seed method produces plants that will bloom in the third year after sowing.

The seeds are collected in September, after full ripening, and they try to sow immediately so as not to lose germination. The composition of the soil must contain the following components: peat, rotted earth, sand.

• Before planting, seeds can be soaked for a day in a growth stimulator.
• Considering that the seeds of the wallot are quite large, they can be planted one at a time in separate cups. The plant really doesn't like being replanted, and you will thank yourself for not having to replant them later. However, many are not afraid of picking, so decide for yourself what is more convenient.
• After sowing the seeds, the container is covered with plastic wrap. Monitor the air temperature (optimal + 18°C), do not forget to ventilate and remove condensation.
• A month later the first shoots appear.
• They start diving only after six months, planting each sprout in a separate container.
• Light, non-stagnant watering will provide the seedlings with the necessary amount of moisture. In winter they need good lighting most of all. An indoor temperature maintained at 16°C will be an excellent complement to the lighting regime. Water very rarely.

After 2 years, the strengthened, grown seedlings are moved into slightly cramped pots. This is done in order to ensure flowering at an earlier date. When planting, the neck of the bulb should rise above the ground by two-thirds in height.

After 4 years, the first peduncle is expected.

Planting and replanting wallots: basic rules

Before planting, be sure to treat the soil to disinfect it. To prevent rot, soak the bulbs for 20 minutes in a two percent solution of cuprosan, oxychome or any other fungicide.

Transfer

It is better to replant before the appearance of flower stalks, in the spring, but not more than once every two to three years. If the bulb becomes crowded, it is transplanted into a larger container. At the same time, it is worth separating the daughter bulbs, since they deplete the mother bulb and, as they grow, take a lot of strength from it.

Place a small layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot, then fill two-thirds with soil. Carefully remove the bulb from the moistened soil, remove the soil from it and separate the children.

Old rotted or dried roots are removed with a sharp knife.

Both when planting and when transplanting, the bulbs are not buried more than two-thirds. This will make it easier for young children to develop, and later it will be much more painless to separate them from their mother.

Moisten the transplanted plant a little and put it in a dark place for a week. Then we return the wallot to its permanent place.

The soil should be “airy” and nutritious. It is very easy to prepare at home. There are several recipes.

1. — coarse sand – 1 part; - humus - 1 part; — peat – 2 parts; - leaf soil - 2 parts; - turf - 3 parts;
2. – leaf soil – 4 parts; - turf - 1 part; - humus - 2 parts.
3. - turf - 1 part; — peat – 2 parts; - leaf soil - 1 part; - sand - 2 parts. (such soil is suitable for sowing seeds).
4. – turf – 1 part; - leaf soil - 1 part; - humus - 1 part; - coarse sand - 1 part; (this soil is good to use when raising children).

Drainage can be made from small pebbles or even foam.

Flower types

Depending on the annual cycle of the plant, all varieties of this flower can be divided into two types:

1. Evergreens.
2. Geophytes.

From the name of the first group of plants it is clear that they remain green all year round, therefore in our latitudes they can only grow in greenhouses or constantly migrate from the garden bed to pots for the winter. Growing the wallot plant at home is possible both in the garden and in pots on the windowsill.

Amaryllis of the second type, geophytes, lose their leaves during unfavorable periods. They are further divided into groups depending on the growing season: for some plants this period occurs in the summer months, while for others it occurs in the winter months. Caring for different types of wallot is somewhat different and has its own characteristics.

In addition, in the genus of these plants there are real “informals” that bloom only after surviving a forest fire and heavy smoke. If a fire does not occur within a year, the wallflower does not bloom, remaining in the same state for a long time. Thanks to this feature, they received their second name - fire lily.

Poisonous properties of the plant

The leaves, roots, even flowers of the plant are saturated with toxins . Wallot bulbs contain the highest concentration of poisonous juice. The active ingredient is the alkaloid lycorine. Large doses cause vomiting, upset stomach, intestines, and diarrhea.

If the juice of the plant gets on the skin, it turns red and begins to itch. All manipulations with cirtanthus involve the use of rubber gloves. After completing the transplant, you should wash your hands and used instruments with soap.

Attention! Children and animals need to be supervised so that they do not touch the plant.

Varieties and photos

The plant has only three varieties, for which there is still debate about where to classify them. For example, the beautiful and purple wallots were identified as a separate subspecies of citranthus, and the dwarf wallots were identified as the subspecies Clivia.

Vallota is beautiful

The plant is also called Citranthus, purple Amaryllis, beautiful Crinum. Its brown bulb is scaly and oblong in shape. The leathery leaf, 40 cm long, has the shape of a sword and is dark green in color. The stem with the inflorescence comes straight from the core of the bulb and reaches a height of 30 cm. It has no sepals, and it is empty inside. An umbrella combines 3-6 flowers at once. One bud consists of 6 petals. The petal has the following parameters: length 8, width up to 10 cm. Mostly burgundy and bright orange colors of flowers are found, the only exception is the genus Alba with white petals.

Wallotha purple

This variety has smaller leaves and flowers than other types of wallot. The perennial also has a bulb and foliage no more than three tens of centimeters in height. They are painted bright green and have a leathery surface. The diameter of one flower reaches 5-6 cm, and one bell inflorescence contains a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 buds. The pointed petals form a purple flower.

Vallota white

This species is very easy to confuse with a lily. Although the flowers of the bush are not pure white, but with a cream tint. The leaves are xiphoid, bright green. 5-7 flowers are formed on the peduncle. Blooms in spring or autumn.

Wallot pink

The rarest type. In all external characteristics, it is similar to white valotta, but differs only in the soft pink shade of the flowers.

Using cirtanthus in interior design

Most often, wallot is planted in separate pots. One container can contain several onions or one or two. Ensembles with succulents look good next to fire lilies of different shades.

These are bushes with thick leaves: aloe, kalanchoe, dollar or money tree.

In summer, pots with cirtanthus are placed next to original stones and wooden products. The plant loves fresh air. Often, pots with bright bells are placed in flower beds and even hung in flowerpots.

Diseases and pests

Wallot is highly susceptible to root rot due to waterlogging of the soil and the presence of pathogens of this disease in the soil. Therefore, it is better to plant the bulbs in previously disinfected soil. Most needed for young bulbs.

Excess moisture in the soil in winter often causes gray rot. It is not uncommon for aphids, spider mites and scale insects to infest wallot.

Why do the leaves of a flower turn yellow?

How to care for a wallot flower and what should be the conditions for its growth? Like all other bulbous crops, this plant needs care and certain environmental conditions. So, one of the main conditions for the good existence and abundant flowering of this plant is bright lighting.

Direct sunlight in the first half of the day is highly desirable for wallot, but partial shade is quite acceptable in the afternoon. When placed on window sills at home, eastern windows are preferable or, as a last resort, western ones. But plants located on southern window sills may burn; on northern windowsills, additional lighting will be required.

Yellow leaf tips

Leaves signal problems with roots! Perhaps there is overmoistening, and dark ends are the first signal of problems. Adjust watering depending on the time of year, because waterlogging most often occurs in winter. Dense leaves can wilt from low temperatures, because this bulbous plant loves warmth. If multiple problems with leaves are observed, you should pay attention to the “diseases of indoor flowers” ​​page to exclude the possibility of fungal or bacterial diseases.

If it doesn't bloom

For flowering, a cool winter, good lighting and a proportionate pot are crucial. In order for a flower stalk to appear, the plant must absorb the entire volume of soil in the pot and grow roots. However, the reason may also be that the container is too tight; in this case, the bulb simply does not have enough nutrition to bloom. Flowering is usually preceded by a period of rest in coolness and minimal humidity. This winter “rest” promotes the formation of flower stalks.

Features of caring for wallot also require compliance with the temperature regime. In summer, the optimal temperature is a thermometer reading of 22-24 °C. Wallot leaves turn yellow and even begin to fall off if the air temperature exceeds this figure. In winter, it is advisable to place evergreen species growing at home in a bright but cool room with an air temperature of 7–10 °C. This could be, for example, an insulated loggia. Bulbs of deciduous plants of this species must be removed from any frost-free room with a temperature of at least 5°C.

Growing wallot from seeds

This method of reproduction is used much less frequently and mainly by breeders. The most suitable time for sowing seeds in pre-moistened soil is October-November. To create a greenhouse effect, the plant is covered with transparent plastic film or glass. Containers with seeds must be regularly ventilated to avoid the development of fungal diseases. For successful germination of seed, the air temperature in the room should not fall below 16 °C.

Wallot seeds

Not only experienced gardeners, but also beginners can grow a tropical plant called wallot. The culture is unpretentious in care and cultivation and requires a minimum of attention.