Amaryllis Belladonna is a flowering plant that belongs to the true Amaryllis genus. All other Amaryllis that you probably see in garden stores or floral displays are hybrids and belong to other families. It is native to the South African climate. You may know this by the name – Belladonna Lily. It’s not a Lilly, it is an Amaryllis flower that looks similar to lilies. Here in the United States, it is compatible to grow in USDA zone 7 to 11 with little variations. Today we will discuss How to Transplant and Grow Amaryllis Belladonna? If you are interested then keep reading and get ready to try something new in your garden.
Belladonna Lily is a mild warm weather-loving plant just like most other Amaryllis. This makes them different from Liles. If you have the right climatic condition then belladonna lily is pretty easy to grow. All you need is an Amaryllis bulb and a bright garden spot with well-drained soil.
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Basic info of Amaryllis Belladonna
- Common Name: Belladonna Lily
- Botanical Name: Amaryllis Belladonna
- Origin: Native to South African Climate
- Growth Zone: USDA Agricultural Zone 7 to 11, especially through zone 7B to 9.
- Plant size: 1.5 to 2.5 feets
- Bloom: 3 to 5-inch flowers with a variety of colors.
- Soil type: Very adaptable with different soil types. Though best grows in black alluvial soil in raised beds. Well-drained soil with a slightly low ph value is good to grow belladonna lilies.
- Sunlight: Amaryllis belladonna requires partial to full sunlight for more than 6 hours every day.
- Watering: This plant requires low to moderate watering, max 1 inch per week.
- Propagation: You can propagate these beautiful belladonna flowers from seeds, bulbs, or bulbils.
Where to Grow Amaryllis Belladonna?
You should grow Amaryllis belladonna in garden borders or raised beds. The plant should receive bright direct sunlight for 6 hours especially during the blooming season.
It also works well with containers. Choose an 8 to 10 inch wide and 6-inch deep bulb tray to grow Amaryllis bulbs. Each bulb tray can accommodate 3 bulbs together. Belladonna lilies bloom better when grown in groups.
You can also grow these flowers with other lilies or amaryllis plants.
Which Soil type is good for Amaryllis Belladonna?
Amaryllis Belladonna is a very versatile plant. It can easily acclimatize to a variety of soil types. These plants don’t require much care and attention and can grow well in poor soil conditions.
It only requires the soil to have good drainage. Belladonna lilies can’t survive in prolonged roots exposure to water.
If you grow these flowers for sale or flower display then use a healthy soil mix. I would rather suggest making your mix with 50% plain garden soil, 30% sand 20% compost, 5% Bonemeal fertilizers, 3 % perlite or coco peat, and 2% NPK 5:10:10. It is a miracle potting mix for lilies and amaryllis.
Latter feet the plants with potassium-rich fertilizer once every month. You can also use some flower food available online for Belladonna lilies.
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Does Amaryllis belladonna need heavy watering?
No, Belladonna lilies don’t require heavy watering. Only 1/2 to 3/4 inch water per plant per week is sufficient. If you are not comfortable with exact measurements then use a cup instead.
Pour 3 to 4 cups of water into each plant and let the soil dry out before the next spell. Don’t worry if forget to water these plants, they can survive a dry spell for more than 15 days.
Maintaining a proper watering cycle helps with better plant growth. It can result in bigger healthier and brighter blooms.
Though Belladonna lily can survive heavy dehydration still never let it dry out for too long. It will not kill the plant but affect the blooms.
You should be careful with watering these Amaryllis belladonna as they can’t survive fogginess even for a couple of days. Excess watering is the prime cause of root rot in Belladonna lilies. So avoid overwatering and let the topsoil dry before the next spell.
You can use your knuckles to test out the moisture level in the soil. Just put your fingers to their knuckle depth in the soil. If it feels dry and rough then water the plants else wait for a day or two.
Fertilizer need for Amaryllis Belladonna
Belladonna lily doesn’t require much nutrition to grow. The plant bulb already contains the majority of required nutrients. Still, if you want better bloom then prepare a soil mix with abundant organic matter.
Compost is the best option for soil mix. It acts as a slow-release fertilizer. This will feed the bulb and Belladonna plant throughout its growth period. You can also use bonemeal fertilizer with compost to nourish the soil. Bonemeal contains high concentrations of Potassium, Phosphorus, and sulfur that can strengthen the bulb and root system of the Amaryllis plants. It is also a slow-release natural fertilizer that will not depreciate quickly with flowing water. Potassium in bonemeal also helps in increasing bud formation. It also increases bloom size and quality.
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Propagation Methods of Belladonna Lily
We can propagate Belladonna lilies from their seeds, bulbs, and bulbils or bulblets. Most of you are familiar with amaryllis bulbs, they are easily available in garden stores.
You can buy or collect Amaryllis belladonna bulbs from any nearby garden store or nursery. If you don’t find one then check out some belladonna lily bulbs on amazon. Bigger bulbs can bloom in 2 years after transplant. They usually grow and expand in size in their first growth year. Latter you will find them blooming every year from the second after plantation.
Belladonna lilies can also propagate through their seeds. Though finding any viable healthy Amaryllis seed is difficult. Not many flower cultivators grow Belladonna lily for their seeds. They usually prefer the bulbs as it grows faster than seeds. Only those who breed new Amaryllis varieties can have flowers with viable seeds. They will not sell these seeds online, you have to reach them to get some.
Finally, Amaryllis bulbils or bulblets can also grow into new plants. These are the intermediate node between the plant stalk and the main bulb. A bulbil in belladonna lily looks like a scale of the bulb. It is flat and curved to cover the bulb outers. Gently peel them to their roots and culture them indoors until a sufficient root system develops to support the plant. This technique is not very easy and is used only by expert gardeners. Belladonna plants grown from bulbils grow faster than seeds but take longer to bloom than bulbs.
Germinate Amaryliis Belladonna
If you have some amaryllis seeds then prepare a seedling tray for them.
Mix 40% compost, with 30% cocopeat and 20% sand, and only 10% soil. Fill the tray with this soil mix and tap to settle it evenly.
Water the soil and make it moist. Sprinkle the seeds over the damp soil surface and cover it with the same soil mix.
Put the germination tray in a warm bright indoor spot for 3 to 4 weeks. Keep it moist throughout this time. You can also cover it with a transparent plastic sheet to increase temperature.
If you are lucky then 35 to 40% of seeds may germinate after 10 weeks of sowing.
Germinate Amaryllis Belladonna Bulbs
- Use big healthy bulbs for germination. You can buy a bulb tray for this process else any deep and wide container is fine to use. Make sure it has a drainage hole in the bottom.
- Fill the tray with soil mix leaving 1-inch space on top for watering. Use 20% cocopeat, 20% soil, 20% compost and 60% sand for bulb germination.
- Make a 3-inch deep hole in the soil mix and put 1 bulb in each hole. Keep the crown upward else they will not germinate. Cover the soil and gently tap it to settle down.
- Water the soil mix abundantly for the first time and leave the tray as it is for 2 to 3 weeks. There is no need to water again before germination.
- Amaryllis belladonna bulbs will germinate and sprout within 3 to 4 weeks after sowing. Wait for another 3 weeks to transplant these bulbs.
When to shift Amaryllis from germination tray to garden?
Transplant the Belladonna lily plants in the garden after the risk of heavy frost is over. Wait for the night temperature to rise above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you have pre-sprouted the Bulbs then make sure not to damage the rootball else they will not bloom until next year.
The size of the bulb is more important than the size of the plant for successful transplantation. It is advised to leave smaller bulbs in their original spot for a few years until they are ready to bloom.
Keep in mind most Belladonna lily won’t bloom in the first year of their transplant. So if you want to get the blooms the shift the plants to a new location or direct in the garden in the fall season. Here the plant will get 6 to 8 months of acclimatization time to be ready for blooming.
How to Transplant Amaryllis Belladonna?
- Push a trowel gently below the Amaryllis bulb and pull it off. Don’t worry if a few roots are cut off but try not to damage the bulb and its ain root system.
- If you are transplanting in the spring season then don’t remove the soil from roots. Transplant it to a new spot as soon as you can. It is essential to protect the Amaryllis plant from transplant shock.
- You can rinse off the dirt in fall transplants. First, dry it out in the full sun for a day and store it in a cool dark dry well-ventilated storage area.
- Make holes bigger than the root ball in the garden to accommodate the Belladonna transplant. The plant will require full sun so choose a spot accordingly.
- Use your soil mix to refill the holes after transplant. It is better to add some compost and bonemeal fertilizer to the soil to nourish the root ball.
- Put the transplant in the center of this hole and fill the space with soil mix. Tap the soil gently to remove any air pocket.
- Water abundantly for the first time and reduce with the subsequent schedule. Regular watering is required until the plant is acclimatized to its new location. Later you can stop watering for weeks.
How to Grow and Care Amaryllis Belladonna?
- Amaryllis Belladonna does not require much care once it adapts to its environment. It will grow and thrive on its own for several years in the same spot.
- Occasionally remove weeds and turn out the topsoil to improve aeration around the rootball. Try not to damage the bulb during this process. If you are not comfortable with this then don’t do it, it will not harm the plant.
- Add 1/4 to 1/2 inch organic mulch around the Belladonna lily plant. It is especially required in the USDA zone less than 9. Mulch will prevent weed growth and also keep the bulb warm and hydrated In summer days, mulch will prevent excessive evaporation and protect plant roots from dehydration.
- Usually, you will not face any serious problems in these Belladonna lilies. Still, aphids and powdery mildews are inevitable during rainy days. Use been oil and soap spray to ether these bugs and protect your Amaryllis from any damage.
- Avoid splashing water on the foliage and remove any diseased plants as soon as you find them. This is important for the safety of healthy plants.
- Regular Pruning is not essential for these plants though you can deadhead spent flowers and brown leaves. Sometimes You can prune the Amaryllis belladonna plant in the fall when they turn brown especially if you have to transplant them.