How to plant Lycoris aurea? Detailed explanation of planting methods and care techniques

1. Planting time

The highest summer temperature should not exceed 30°C, with an average temperature of 24°C being most suitable. In winter, the average temperature should be above 8°C, with a minimum temperature of 1°C. However, if transplanting, remember not to do it in winter or early spring after the leaves have grown.

2. Planting environment

The cultivation site requires high terrain and good drainage, preferably slightly acidic soil, with an appropriate amount of base fertilizer added at planting time.

3. Planting method

Remove the small bulbs around the main bulb for propagation. Trim off the residual roots of the main bulb, and once the wounds are dry, it can be planted. Bury the main bulb in the soil, leaving the top of the bulb exposed when covering with soil, then water and fertilize appropriately.

During the growing period, keep the soil moist but not waterlogged to prevent root rot.

After learning how to plant Lycoris aurea, do you feel it is not that difficult? But when planting plants, you must be careful of pests and diseases. So what pests and diseases might Lycoris aurea have? And how should they be prevented and controlled?

Planting methods and pest and disease control knowledge for Lycoris aurea

Lycoris aurea, also known as Tiese Jian, Huanghua Shisuan, etc., is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Amaryllidaceae family, Lycoris genus. In gardens, it can be used as understory ground cover flowers, planted in groups in flower borders, or naturally planted among rocks. Because it blooms when it has no leaves, it is best paired with other more shade-tolerant herbaceous plants. It has characteristics such as robust scapes and long flower stems. Let us take a look at the cultivation methods of Lycoris aurea!

Growth habits of Lycoris aurea

Lycoris aurea prefers sunny and humid environments such as shady and wet hillsides, under rocks and cliffs, but it can also tolerate semi-shade and dry environments, is slightly cold-tolerant, has strong vitality, and has no strict requirements for soil. If the soil is fertile and well-drained, the flowers will be exceptionally abundant. It is distributed in Fujian, Taiwan, China, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, and Yunnan in China, as well as in Japan and Myanmar.

Propagation methods of Lycoris aurea

1. Bulb division propagation: Bulb division is the simplest and most commonly used propagation method for Lycoris aurea. During the dormant period or after flowering, dig out the plant, remove the offset bulbs attached near the mother bulb and plant them. They can bloom in about one to two years.

2. Scale cutting: Cut the cleaned bulb base in a star pattern into eight sections, with a depth of 1/2 to 2/3 of the bulb length. After disinfection and drying in the shade, insert into moist sand, perlite, or other substrates. After separate cultivation, they can develop into seedlings.

3. Tissue culture: Tissue culture of Lycoris aurea uses MS medium, with pedicels and ovaries collected as explant materials. After culture, callus tissue can be produced at the cut site. Adventitious roots can form after 1 month, and adventitious buds can form after 3 to 4 months.

Planting methods of Lycoris aurea

1. Temperature: Lycoris aurea prefers warmth, has low cold tolerance, and is not very tolerant of high temperatures either. Therefore, during cultivation, the temperature should not exceed 30 degrees, nor be lower than 8°C, and the average temperature should be maintained at around 24 degrees at least.

2. Watering: Lycoris aurea prefers moisture, especially during the growing period when watering should be frequent, always keeping the soil moist. However, do not water too much to avoid waterlogging, which can cause bulb rot.

3. Fertilizing: For Lycoris aurea under normal circumstances, fertilizing 2 to 4 times a year is sufficient. The first time is before flowering, applying organic fertilizer or compound fertilizer. The second time is after flowering at the end of October, applying nitrogen fertilizer and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer.

Pest and disease control of Lycoris aurea

1. Anthracnose: A common disease of Lycoris aurea is anthracnose. Before planting, soak the bulbs in 0.3% copper sulfate solution for 30 minutes, wash with water, dry, and then plant. Spray 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 500 times dilution every half month for prevention and control. In the early stage of the disease, spray with 50% benlate at 2500 times dilution.

2. Spodoptera litura: Spodoptera litura mainly damages leaves, flower buds, and fruits with its larvae, gnawing on leaf tissue and boring into scapes and seeds. It generally causes damage from late spring to November. It can be controlled with 5% fipronil suspension at 2500 times dilution or Wanling at 1000 times dilution.

3. Lycoris noctuid: Can be controlled by plowing in winter or early spring to dig out overwintering pupae and reduce the pest population. When outbreaks occur, spray with Lorsban at 1500 times dilution or phoxim emulsifiable concentrate at 800 times dilution. Spraying in the morning or evening when larvae come out to feed gives better results.

4. Thrips: Thrips mainly suck nutrients at the leaf emergence area of Lycoris aurea bulbs, causing leaf chlorosis, especially found in greater numbers after fruit maturation. They can be controlled by alternating sprays of 25% imidacloprid at 3000 times dilution and 70% Admire at 6000 to 10000 times dilution.

Propagation methods of Lycoris aurea

Bulb division propagation method for Lycoris aurea

This is the simplest method. During the dormant period or after flowering of Lycoris aurea, dig out the plant, remove the offset bulbs near the mother bulb, and plant the offset bulbs. They generally bloom in one to two years.

Scale base cutting propagation method for Lycoris aurea

Cut the cleaned bulb base in a star pattern, with a cutting depth of one-half or two-thirds of the bulb length. After disinfecting and drying the bulb base in the shade, insert it into moist sand, perlite, and other media. Generally after three months, adventitious buds can be seen growing at the junction of the scales and the basal plate, then small bulbils gradually form, and finally after separate cultivation, they can develop into seedlings.

Tissue culture propagation method for Lycoris aurea

Using MS medium, collect pedicels and ovaries as explant materials. After culture, callus tissue can be produced at the cut site. Generally speaking, adventitious roots can form after one month, and adventitious buds can form after three to four months.