Kalochortus (Calochortus) is a little-known bulbous herbaceous perennial in our country, belonging to the Liliaceae family. The Kalohortus flower is capable of growing both outdoors and as a houseplant. The flower has American roots, so it is most widespread in many parts of the United States, as well as in Canada, Mexico, Guatemala.
Description of the plant Kalohortus
The Kalochortus flower consists of a thin, branched stem from 10 cm to 2 m high (depending on the species), on which narrow-linear leaf plates are located, and delicate single flowers or umbellate inflorescences of various palette, collected from three petals in the form of moth wings.
Plants can become a real decoration of a garden and a personal plot in the spring-summer season, and in indoor conditions - a highlight of the interior and an element of closeness to nature throughout the year. You can admire white, pink, red, purple, lilac and yellow flowers in spring and summer. Kalohortus propagates by seeds or daughter bulbs.
Growing Kalohortus from seeds
Sowing seeds
Seeds should be stored for no more than 2-3 years in a dry and dark place at a temperature of 15-25 degrees Celsius. This must be taken into account when purchasing planting material.
Since the seed size is 1-2 mm, the planting depth should not exceed 5-15 mm. In spring, seeds are sown chaotically over the soil surface, after which they are covered with a rake. For autumn planting, it is more convenient to use small grooves with a depth of about 1.5 cm.The width of the row spacing is about 25 cm.
Some species (eg of California origin) must be stratified before sowing.
Seed stratification
Within 2-4 months, the seed material must be kept in a plastic bag with wet sand on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator or in the cellar (basement) until the seeds germinate, after which they can be sown in open ground (in early spring).
In the absence of severe winters, seeds can be sown in open ground before winter to undergo natural stratification.
The first flowering after sowing seeds on open beds occurs only after 5-6 years.
Seedling Kalohortus
The seedling method of growing is recommended for thermophilic species of Kalohortus plants. In this case, seed stratification is not required.
Sowing of seeds is carried out in the last winter days or in the first spring week. You will need a planting container with a nutritious soil mixture for flowering plants. Each seed should be lightly pressed into the soil to a depth of about five millimeters, moistened with a fine spray and covered with glass or plastic.
Favorable conditions for growing are about 20 degrees of heat indoors, bright diffused lighting for 10-12 hours, regular ventilation and humidification, hardening of seedlings.
A planting box with small bulbs in the summer should be kept outdoors in partial shade conditions at a temperature of no more than 28 degrees Celsius. Watering is carried out moderately, young plants are fed once a season with complex mineral fertilizers.
In the first year, not all seeds will be able to germinate. For the winter, the containers are transferred to room conditions. Seedlings can be transplanted to open beds only after 2 years.
Planting Kalohortus in open ground
Autumn planting is used for species that bloom in the spring. In the spring, it is preferable to plant species of plants, the flowering period of which occurs in the summer months.
Location
The best place for growing Kalohortus is an area with partial shade, without drafts and strong gusts of wind, with well-drained soil (with slightly alkaline or neutral reactions), sandy loam in composition.
Before planting, it is recommended to immerse the bulbs for half an hour in a weak manganese solution, then rinse and dry. Planting depth - no more than 15 cm and no less than 5 cm.The distance between plants is 10 cm.
Watering
Moderate watering of Kalohortus is carried out only during the growing season; after flowering, watering is not needed. Excessive moisture can cause the bulbs to rot.
Top dressing and fertilizers
From spring to autumn, it is recommended to feed the plants 3 times: in March (with mineral fertilizers), at the stage of bud formation (with phosphorus) and after flowering (with potassium).
Preparing for winter
Winter-resistant species and varieties of Kalohortus do not need to be dug up for the winter, they can survive frosts up to 34 degrees, the rest should be moved to a cellar or basement for the winter. It is recommended to cover the remaining plants in the soil with compost or peat mulch.
Storing the bulbs
The dug out bulbs, after drying and sorting, must be stored in cardboard containers in a dark and dry place with a temperature of about 15 degrees Celsius.
Reproduction of Kalohortus
Reproduction of Kalohortus by daughter bulbs
The rules for growing Kalohortus from daughter bulbs is the correct preparation and storage of planting material. Daughter bulbs are separated from the main bulbs, which are dug out of the soil after flowering, sorted, dried at a temperature of about 20 degrees and good air circulation, and then left for storage in a cool dark place until planting.
Diseases and pests
The main pests of Kalohortus are rats, mice, hares and rabbits. A possible disease is bacteriosis, which occurs when there is an excess of moisture. It is necessary to observe the irrigation regime and cover the plantings with polyethylene during long rains.
Types and varieties of Kalohortus
The genus Kalohortus consists of almost 70 different species, which are conventionally divided into three groups according to the shape and height of plants, as well as their adaptability to climate, soil and weather conditions.
Group 1 - Kalohortus Mariposa (Mariposa lilies)
The first group includes tall representatives that develop well in the middle zone on the territories of dry meadows and semi-deserts, in the vicinity of thorny bushes. Some of them are very popular types.
Kalohortus beautiful - consists of a branched stem from 10 to 60 cm in height, twenty centimeter basal leaves with a grayish surface and inflorescences - umbrellas of 6 flowers of white, bright red, pink or purple shades in the form of bells. It prefers to grow in areas with sandy soil 0.5-2.5 km above sea level.
Kalohortus yellow - differs from other species in the dark yellow color of the flower with a red-brown spot in the center and a maximum height of about 30 cm. Bred in California.
Kalohortus is excellent - most often it can be found on mountain slopes near the shore of a reservoir or on desert foothills.The average plant growth is 40-60 cm. Inflorescences of three flowers or independent flowers are painted in a white or pinkish tint.
Kalohortus Vesta - consists of a branched stem, basal leaf rosettes and single white flowers with a pale yellow spot in the center. Average height - about 50 cm. Prefers to grow in forest areas, loves clay soil.
Group 2 - Star Tulips and Cat's Ears
The second group of colochortuses includes small-sized plants with smooth or pubescent petals, capable of dwelling in high-mountain areas on complex soils.
Kalohortus Tolmi - a species characterized by high germination of seeds that do not require stratification, and a variety of colors during flowering. It is able to show all its beauty even on poor dry soil. The average height is 10-60 cm.
Kalohortus univalent - blooms in the second half of May with yellow flowers with slight pubescence at the edges of the petals. Reaches a height of 10-15 cm. Feels great on clay areas in partial shade conditions.
Kalohortus small - a baby plant with white inflorescences, the growth of which does not exceed 10 cm. Loves moist meadow soil, but can grow well on mountain slopes at high altitudes.
Kalohortus nudus - a species of plants with individual flowers of a light lilac or pink hue, preferring to settle on soils with high humidity in the immediate vicinity of a lake or swamp. Average height - no more than 30 cm.
Kalohortus one-flowered - a species that has gained great popularity in horticulture for its simplicity in cultivation, high winter hardiness and resistance to diseases and pests.
Group 3 - Ball-shaped, magic lantern (Faіry Lanterns or Globe Tulіps)
The third group is called "Spherical, magic lanterns", as the shape of the flowers are similar to small balls.
Kalohortus white - consists of narrow basal leaves about 20-50 cm long and white inflorescences of 3-12 globular flowers with a pubescent surface. Plant height - about 50 cm. In its natural environment, it occurs on forest edges and on mountain slopes in penumbra conditions.
Kalohortus pleasant - a species of plants with golden yellow spherical flowers, which is widespread on forest soils with good lighting and on mountain slopes at an altitude of 0.2-1 km above sea level.
Kalohortus Amoenus - has a branched stem up to 15 cm high, flowers of pink shades round in shape. Grows well in shady areas with good soil moisture.
