Hippeastrum – a perennial bulbous plant of the Amaryllidaceae family, which can be made to bloom at any time of the year with proper care. To begin, the bulb must be prepared: it is fertilized and placed in a pot, then placed in a cool place with a temperature of 10–12 °C. Watering is stopped, leaves yellow and are cut – this is a signal of the onset of the rest period. After several months of rest, the bulbs are planted in a garden bed or in the ground, where they begin to grow and form new flower stalks. Blooming can be prolonged, with the appearance of new buds.
Care for hippeastrum requires adherence to the light and temperature regime: the plant prefers bright light and a temperature from 5 °C to 17 °C. During the formation of flower stalks, abundant watering is required, but it is important to avoid stagnant water – bulbs do not like "stagnation". After blooming is completed, leaves and flower stalks are cut, and then the plant is placed in a dry dark place for a rest period of 3–5 months.
Repotting hippeastrum is recommended once every two years, preferably in spring, after the end of flowering. When repotting, the bulb is removed from the pot, all dry and rotten parts are cut, and if necessary, offshoots (appearing on the bulb after flowering) are removed. For planting, loose soil with a drainage layer is used; the bulb is buried halfway so that it is 2–3 cm from the edges of the pot. Regular fertilization with mineral fertilizers twice a month maintains the plant's health and promotes more abundant flowering.
Hippeastrum is distinguished by the fact that it can be made to bloom at any time of the year: before planting, the bulb is placed in water at a temperature of 40–45 °C for 3–4 hours, after which it is ready for planting. This approach allows you to control the flowering cycle and get bright, large buds even outside the traditional season.
