Ledeburia

The Ledebouria plant is a member of the Asparagus family. In nature, it can be found in the South African tropics. There, the bushes of Ledeburia live in drying up river floodplains or on sunny plains. Previously, Ledeburia was classified as a genus of Scylla (forest forest) and belonged to the Liliaceae family.

Due to its undemanding care and decorative appearance, Ledeburia is considered one of the most suitable plants for novice florists. Despite the ability to withstand adverse conditions, the flower is most often grown precisely as a room specimen - the plant's winter hardiness is not too high. It will only be possible to grow Ledeburia in the garden in warm areas where the temperature does not drop below 7 degrees. In this case, the flower is most often used to decorate rockeries.

Description of ledeburia

Ledeburia is a perennial that develops from a bulb. Its dimensions are small and only reach 2 cm in length. The genus includes about 40 different species. All of them have oblong foliage, a bit like a lily. The maximum leaf length reaches 13 cm. Several dense basal rosettes can form on one bush. In this case, the color of the leaf plates can be very varied. Their color palette includes shades of green, silver and even burgundy. The surface of the leaves can also be decorated with spots or stripes.

When flowering, large and tall peduncles with cluster inflorescences appear on the bush. They are formed by small flowers resembling bells. Their color can be pale green, deep pink or purple. The flowering period begins towards the end of spring and lasts almost all summer. At the same time, the growth rate of each bush is rather small: it forms only three new leaves per year. Despite this, in favorable planting conditions, they can gradually grow, building up new bulbs and forming real clumps.

Brief rules for growing ledeburia

The table provides brief rules for caring for ledeburia at home.

Ledeburia care at home

Lighting

The degree of illumination of the Ledeburia bush can affect the intensity of its color, as well as the abundance and regularity of flowering. For normal development, the plant needs a lot of light, but direct rays can harm it, so the flower is shaded from the scorching rays. As a rule, a pot of ledeburia is kept on any windows except the northern ones, but the southern direction is considered preferable. The compactness of the sockets also depends on the lighting. The lighter it is in the room, the more squat and denser the leaves will be.

Temperature

During development, the bushes prefer moderate heat, about 18-22 degrees. In summer, flower pots can be taken out into the open air, choosing a place sheltered from cold air and rain. At the same time, in room conditions, ledeburia are not afraid of drafts.

When the plants begin their dormant period, they should be placed in a cooler place, where they stay about 14 degrees. But, so that the bulbs do not start to rot, you should not overcool the room too much. Abundant watering is also capable of harming plantings at this time.

Watering

Watering the ledeburia should not be too abundant - waterlogging can lead to the development of rot on the bulbs. In spring and summer, the soil is slightly moistened as it dries, about 1-2 times a week. Underfilling in this case is preferable to overflow: the plant tolerates periods of drought well, but you should not completely dry out the earthen lump. If the flower lacks moisture, its leaves will become more sluggish. For irrigation, you can use ordinary well-settled water. It is in such water that the salts necessary for the plant are contained.

In winter, when the flower hibernates in the cool, watering is carried out much less often: once every 2-3 weeks.

Humidity level

Moderate humidity is well suited for growing Ledeburia, but the plant is able to tolerate normal low room humidity well. Periodically, the foliage of Ledeburia can be sprayed with moderately warm clean water. This is done about once a week.

Capacity selection

Indoor Ledeburia is usually grown in a shallow and wide container. There should be drainage holes at the bottom of the pot to help drain excess moisture. For transplants, containers are chosen that are significantly (from 5 cm) larger in diameter.

The soil

For growing ledeburia, versatile substrates for bulbous species are well suited. To prepare a suitable mixture, peat or humus mixed with garden soil and sand or perlite is suitable. The resulting mixture should be moisture permeable and moderately nutritious and sufficiently loose. Drainage is additionally laid on the bottom of the pot.

Top dressing

Homemade ledeburia will not need frequent feeding. They are carried out only during the growth of the bushes, about once a month. Any complex mineral composition suitable for flowering species can be used, but the manufacturer's recommended dosage should be approximately halved. The need for top dressing can also be judged by the growth rate of the bushes. If they are actively growing new bulbs, they do not need planting fertilizers.

Transfer

Ledeburia does not require regular transplants. They are carried out only if necessary, every few years.The reason may be that the bush has completely ceased to fit in the old pot or the soil in it is too caked. The transplant can also help rejuvenate the plantings. After over 8 years of cultivation, the bushes may lose their attractiveness. To rejuvenate them, the daughter bulbs should be separated from the flower.

When transplanting a bulb into new soil, it is important to monitor the degree of its burial. Part of it should remain above the soil surface, this will prevent possible rotting. The degree of burial can also depend on the type of plant.

Bloom

Domestic ledeburia usually bloom in mid-spring. During this period, large peduncles grow from the central part of the rosettes. On them are racemose inflorescences, consisting of small bell-shaped flowers. Their color depends on the species and variety.

Breeding methods of ledeburia

Growing from seeds

Ledeburia seeds can be used to reproduce. Sowing is carried out in the spring. Seeds are spread over the surface of the peat-sand mixture, without sprinkling. The container is covered with foil and placed in the light. Fresh seeds should germinate within 2-3 weeks, but the germination of the seed is lost very quickly, so it should not be delayed with sowing.

After emergence, the sprouts will develop rather slowly. Their picking is carried out approximately 1-2 months after germination.

Reproduction by daughter bulbs

During the development period, the Ledeburia bush forms many baby bulbs - they are formed many times faster than fresh foliage. When replanting a plant, they can be separated and used for its propagation, by planting them in individual pots. The division procedure is also best done in the spring, before the bush grows.

Due to the density of the ledeburia curtains, the bulbs should be separated with a sharp instrument, trying to grab the children from the edges of the group so as not to damage the middle. When planting, such bulbs are buried only halfway. If the rooting process is successful, after 2-3 weeks of planting, fresh foliage should be formed. Until complete survival in a new place, the seedlings should be kept under hoods, periodically removing them for ventilation. You do not need to separate the extreme onions, but simply carefully divide the common Ledeburia bush into several parts. Such divisions take root faster.

Possible difficulties

Difficulties with the cultivation of ledeburia arise only with systematic improper care of the flower.

• Brown spots on the leaves of the plant can form due to sunburn. To prevent them from appearing, the bush must be shaded from the scorching sun.
• The leaves became faded or lost their usual variegated color - a consequence of a lack of lighting. The Ledeburia pot should be moved to a lighter corner. Shedding leaves can also be a sign of a lack of light.
• The plant does not bloom. For the formation of buds of ledeburia, abundant, but always diffused lighting is necessary for a long period of time.
• Bulb decay is usually caused by a combination of cool content with abundant watering. At the same time, the plant becomes lethargic. The bulb must be pulled out of the ground, cut off all affected areas, dried slightly and treated with a fungicidal preparation. After that, it is transplanted into fresh soil.
• Drying foliage - it may be time to transplant or rejuvenate the bush.

Scabbards, spider mites and mealybugs, as well as mushroom flies are considered pests of ledeburia. Appropriate insecticides are used against them, but with proper care, the bushes are considered quite resistant to such lesions.

Types of ledeburia with photos and names

Ledeburia public (Ledebouria socialis)

Spectacular plant with long, fleshy foliage. Ledebouria socialis is distinguished by silvery-green leaf blades decorated with dark green spots and specks. Rosette leaves are slightly curved.The species forms strong peduncles covered with small star-shaped flowers of a light green hue. It is this kind of ledeburia that is most often grown indoors.

Ledeburia pauciflora

Bushes of this type are small in height. Ledebouria pauciflora forms wide green leaf blades, complemented by small specks of a darker shade. The cluster inflorescences include purple flowers with green sepals.

Ledeburia Cooper (Ledebouria cooperi)

Semi-leafy species, forming small bushes no more than 10 cm in height. Ledebouria cooperi has emerald-colored erect foliage covered with longitudinal purple stripes. The inflorescences are formed by a large number of bright pink flowers with noticeable yellow stamens. Each flower is only about 6 mm across.