So that your amaryllis (Hippeastrum) can produce magnificent flowers during the Christmas season, you must care for the perennial plant appropriately all year round. Here you can find out what to do if the long leaves become twisted or how you can prevent this.
What can I do if the amaryllis leaves bend?
To protect amaryllis leaves from twisting, place the plant in a bright, wind-protected location, rotate weekly, and water and fertilize properly. If leaves are already bent, eliminate the cause and use a wire support or raised pot.
How do I save the amaryllis if a leaf is broken?
If an amaryllis leaf has already broken or snapped, you need to act quickly. First you should find thecausefor it andeliminate itIn addition, araised potor aWire supportStabilize the leaves so that no more leaves break. If your amaryllis is in a pot on the windowsill, you should rotate it onceweeklyso that it doesn't grow one-sided and the load is distributed unevenly. During the growth phase, also make sure that the amaryllis is asprotected from the wind as possible
What circumstances cause amaryllis leaves to break?
The leaves of the amaryllis break off particularly quickly if they have become too long and too heavy. These causes can trigger unnatural leaf growth:
- Location too dark during the growth phase (If the amaryllis is too dark, its leaves grow longer in order to receive as much light as possible.)
- Too much or incorrect fertilization (the amaryllis should not be fertilized at all, especially during the dormant phase in autumn.)
- Too much water (The amaryllis only needs water in the flowering and growth phase and none at all in the resting phase.)
How do I care for the amaryllis so that the leaves don't bend?
The amaryllis has different care requirements throughout the year:
- Growth phase (spring and summer): Place the amaryllis outside, in the shade and protected from the wind. Keep them moist but not wet and fertilize every two weeks. Stop watering and fertilizing completely from August.
- Rest phase (autumn): Remove withered leaves and store the tuber in a dark and cool place in the cellar.
- Flowering phase (winter): Place the amaryllis back in a warm and bright location, water and fertilize it moderately.
Why is it important that the amaryllis leaves do not bend?
The amaryllis leaves (also called knight's star) are at risk of breaking, especially during the growth phase in spring and summer. If the leaves break, the plant can no longer supply the leaves with sufficient water and nutrients. Due to reduced photosynthesis, the plant has less energy to produce flowers. As a result, asmaller floweror in theworst case even none at all forms in winter
Tip
Attention: The amaryllis is very poisonous in all parts of the plant
Wear gloves when working with the amaryllis to protect yourself. The plant is particularly poisonous, particularly in the tuber, but also in the leaves, flowers and stem. Just two grams of the plant can be fatal. The plant sap usually causes skin irritation. Always keep the plant out of the reach of children and pets.
