Blood flowers (botanical Haemanthus katherinae) is a bulbous plant from the amaryllis family. Caring for it is not easy. Even small mistakes in care take their toll when the plant doesn't bloom or dies. How to care for the blood flower.
How do I properly care for a blood flower?
The blood flower (Haemanthus katherinae) requires rather dry conditions, but without the substrate drying out completely. Water sparingly, fertilize every two weeks during the growth phase, cut off wilted parts, repot regularly and keep them cool and dark in winter.
How to water the blood flower correctly?
The blood flower likes it dry rather than moist. However, the substrate must of course not dry out completely. As soon as the first shoots or flowers appear, start watering. Always allow the top layer of the substrate to dry between watering processes.
Waterlogging is harmful! Therefore, never leave water standing in the saucer or planter.
As soon as the plant begins to settle down in September, reduce the amount of watering. During the winter phase, the blood flower is only watered very sparingly.
How often does it need to be fertilized?
Fertilization is only carried out during the growth phase in spring and summer. Use a potassium-based liquid fertilizer (€8.00 on Amazon) given at two-week intervals.
Does the blood flower need to be cut?
You can cut off faded flowers as well as leaves that are yellow and withered.
When is repotting necessary?
You repot young blood flowers annually; older plants need a new pot every two to three years. Repotting takes place in the spring after the winter break.
What diseases and pests occur?
Diseases actually only occur if you care for the blood flower incorrectly. Too much moisture causes the bulb and later the shoots to rot.
Pests hardly ever bother the blood flower.
How will the blood flower overwinter?
- Keep it cooler from October
- frost-free location
- like dark place
- water little
- do not fertilize
The blood flower sheds its leaves in autumn. The remaining tuber is placed in a place where the temperature is a maximum of 12 to 14 degrees until spring. The plant cannot tolerate frost!
In winter, water is sparse so that the substrate does not dry out completely. You are not allowed to fertilize in winter.
If the blood flower is not kept cooler in winter, it will not produce flowers the next year!
Tip
Plant a store-bought or newly divided blood flower bulb immediately. Otherwise it will dry out too quickly.