Chinese Belamkanda (Iris domestica) is a garden plant from the Belamkanda genus. It belongs to the Iris family and really resembles it very much with its foliage. One of the names of the plant is Leopard Lily. The flowers are more like graceful lilies. In nature, such a plant lives in the Far East, in its warm regions. Despite the status of an ornamental plant used in floriculture, the natural analogue of this belamcanda is listed in the Red Book.
Description of belamkanda
Despite the fact that the Chinese belamcanda is not the only representative of its kind, only this type of flower is grown in the culture. It is a perennial with a wide rhizome located close enough to the soil surface. Its hard, xiphoid foliage can reach half a meter in length and up to 30 cm in width. The size of the peduncles can exceed the length of the leaves by 2 times or even more. Each shoot can form up to 20 flowers, while several buds can bloom at the same time.
Chinese belamcanda has rather large 6-petal oval flowers. In shape, they resemble some lilies, which is why the plant is sometimes called the Chinese lily or the Chinese orchid. Despite the short lifespan of each flower (only a day), their large number and constant change provide a fairly long flowering period. It usually falls in July-August.
Flowers can have different colors - in pink or yellow tones, while the petals are additionally decorated with darker spots. Inflorescences of young plants often have a paler color and gain fullness of shades only over the years. The fruits appearing in place of flowers are similar in shape to blackberries, but are considered inedible.
Planting belamcanda in the open field
Belamkanda prefers sunny corners, but is able to grow well in a light lace shade. The soil for planting should not be heavy. Soils with a high humus content and a good drainage layer are suitable - stagnant moisture can destroy plantings. About 20 cm should be kept between the plants.
The area around the belamkanda bushes should be mulched with humus or compost. This will help the plants get more nutrients. In addition to such organic additives, you can feed flowers with mineral compounds twice a month. During the flowering period, such dressings are carried out weekly.
Watering mode
Belamkanda tolerates dry periods much better than waterlogging. In order not to flood the bushes, you need to be more careful about the watering regime. Such plants should be moistened only as needed: between waterings, the earth should have time to dry out.
Dormant period
The heat-loving Chinese belamkanda is not able to withstand the frosty winter in the open field. Cooling down to -15 degrees is considered critical for it. In the southern regions, the flower can be grown as a perennial, but in winter, a shelter should still be organized for it.
In the middle belt of Belamkand, it is grown only as an annual crop. To protect a flower from frost is possible only with the help of a transplant. In the fall, the bush, along with the earthen lump, is moved into a portable container, and in late spring it is returned to the garden.
Home care for belamcanda
If you wish, you can try to grow belamcanda as a home flower. In this case, he will require approximately the same conditions as in the garden. In the summer, such potted specimens can be taken out into the air without planting in open ground - the plant will bloom even in a pot. The planting mixture is usually a combination of turf, peat and sand.
In winter, such belamkandas go to rest, shedding their foliage. To provide them with a full-fledged dormant period, you should move the pots with flowers to a cool (not lower than +10 degrees) room, but a warmer winter is also permissible. Top dressing at this time is completely stopped, and watering is reduced to a minimum.
Reproduction of belamkanda
Growing from seeds
Chinese belamcanda can be propagated in two ways. The first one is seed. Despite the fact that the bushes growing in the garden are capable of self-seeding, seeds that fall into the ground in winter usually die. To propagate belamcanda in this way, you need to wait for the ripening of the fruits, collect them and save them until spring.
With the onset of warm days, you can sow the Chinese lily directly into the ground, but in this case, the flowers will appear later or even not have time to bloom before frost. To be sure to admire the inflorescences in the current season, it is recommended to grow seedlings. Sowing begins in March, after keeping the seeds in a pale solution of manganese for a day. As a soil, you can take any light and nutritious mixture, for example, by mixing peat and sand.
Crop containers should be stratified. The containers covered with bags are placed in a cool place or in the refrigerator. In such conditions, fresh seeds should hatch in 1-2 weeks, while old ones can germinate up to a couple of months. With the appearance of sprouts, the containers are returned to heat and placed in the light. As soon as the seedlings have a third true leaf, they should be cut into separate containers. The planting of such seedlings is carried out only after stable warm weather has established on the street.
Dividing the bush
Adult belamkanda bushes that have reached 4 years of age can be divided. To do this, they are dug up and divided into parts with your fingers, trying to ensure that each division contains several of its own shoots. The plants obtained in this way are planted in sandy soil with a sufficient drainage layer, and then fertilized with humus.
Diseases and pests
Belamcanda is considered pest resistant and rarely gets sick, but can be affected by rot caused by over-watering. The delicate root system of a flower rarely experiences such lesions, but if the focus is small enough, you can transplant the bushes and treat them with fungicidal preparations.
The main types and varieties of belamkanda
Thanks to the work of breeders, belamcanda has several hybrid varieties. Among them:
- Flava - with large, solid, bright yellow flowers.
- Purpurea - with purple, pink or yellowish flowers, decorated with specks.
- Flabellata Gray (fan belamcanda) - a variety notable for its decorative foliage; at the same time, yellow flowers are very small in size and inconspicuous.
