As a sign of innocence, purity, simplicity, elegance and evocation of sincere love, whether filial, partner or spiritual, over time, people at the time of giving have represented these adjectives in the Lily plant. For this reason, in this post important elements about the care, cultivation and irrigation of this plant will be pointed out.
The Azucena
The Azucena plant has its origin in Europe from the north to the Mediterranean coasts and because it has the grace to remain a cut flower for a long time, coupled with not being complicated in its planting and cultivation, it has spread and made itself known in Asia. , Japan, India and the Philippines, as well as in the United States, Canada and South America.
When it is said that it is not complicated to plant, it is because the Lily plant adapts to wooded environments as well as to mountainous places and meadows. Some can grow in swamps. Due to its adaptation to low-acid and lime-free soils.
The scientific name of the Lily is lilies candidum and another common name that it usually receives is Lilies, it can be said that one of the true Lilies. It has a soft aroma, it was well known and appreciated at the time of ancient Crete, considered as the embodiment of tenderness and purity. It was a mythological belief that the goddess Juno, through her breast milk, gave rise to the white color that makes the flowers of the Lily plant stand out.
Features
The Lily plant is characterized by not being so tall, its average height is one meter. Its stems are rigid and leafy, forming underground scaly bulbs and an aerial one that displays a large number of leaves, therefore, qualifying it as herbaceous because it has qualities of grass.
As has been indicated in previous paragraphs that its showiness is also located in North America, in this environment the stem of the plant develops as a rhizome containing several small underground bulbs. Because this species sometimes develops roots on the stems, which make the bulb grow and remain deep, generating a new stem each year.
As for its intense green leaves, they are elongated like a lance that measure up to thirty centimeters holding showy flowers that come to form a bouquet that can contain an average of fifteen Lily flowers.
Flowers that resemble a trumpet and emit a fragrant and soft perfume, especially at night. With curved petals tilting backwards and of different colors such as white (very common), orange, yellow, purple and those that have been achieved, thanks to the combination of these colors, such as those with brown or purple spots.
Its flowering occurs at the end of spring until summer. Its flowers are hermaphrodite, presenting themselves in an envelope of six petals formed by the calyx and the corolla, independent, which due to their showiness are appropriate for decoration and in corsages, especially for brides, and are also used for the elaboration of essences for perfumes.
It is advisable to stir the anthers meticulously and carefully, because they are the ones that produce the pollen, so that its flowering is maintained for a longer time, likewise, at the end of the flowering process, place the flower outdoors.
Another characteristic is that for its conservation, the Azucena plant must be cultivated in places where there is good sunlight but it should not receive it directly, but rather in semi-shade. Its seeds are of a pale color that mature in the summer time and that on some occasions can adapt to a variety of climates. Although the caveat is made that this plant has a warm climate that does not exceed 27°C.
Species diversity
The Lily belongs to the Liliaceae family, composed of an estimated 80 species and also hybrid cultivars. Whose use can be destined one for the production and commercialization of its flowers in bouquets and others are used to be useful and appreciated in the action of decorating gardens, paths, walkways and patios.
Helping for this, the ease that they have to adapt and grow in direct soil and in porrones as long as the substrate is well drained, soft and an environment as indicated above with good sunlight, but placed in the shade and adequate humidity.
Among this diversity of species they are divided into three groups that according to the position of the flower; trumpet-shaped flowers where their sexual organs are removed, another are flowers with open petals and a certain curvature with a horizontal orientation and others differ in that their sexual organs face the ground, but their petals are formed upwards, that is, looking to the sky. Among the species of plants called Lilies we can mention:
- Lily – Lilium sp.
- Lily – lilium candidum
- Yellow Lily –Sternbergia lutea
- Guernese Lily – nerine bowdenii
- Santa Paula Lily, Pink Lily – Amaryllis belladonna
- Peruvian Lily – Alstroemeria aurantiaca o alstroemeria aurea
- Turkish Lily – Hemerocallis spp
- Lily – lilies candidum
- Wild Lily – Narcissus pseudonarcissus
However, these plants are generally not very durable or expire in cold weather, except for the last two on the list (lilies candidum y Narcissus pseudonarcissus) that have the particularity that when they bloom, they remain during the winter.
Wild Lily (Narcissus pseudonarcissus)
The characteristics of one of the best known species of the Lily plant, such as the Wild Lily, which can be seen in Central Europe usually in meadows and forests, managing to grow at altitudes of two thousand meters. Hence, they remain in view of all flowery and beautiful in winter times. In Spain it extends from the Cantabrian area and the Pyrenees mountain range.
This perennial type plant, with long and sharp leaves like the others, is called unifloras, because only one flower sprouts. Its white bulbs allow the birth of a narrow bell where we find six stamens that are distended to make room for a star formation.
In some places, due to its shape, it is also known as the trumpet daffodil, meadow onion, bell daffodil, tragona or angel flower, txutxupraka. In its general context the wild lily is distinguished by its high ornamentation and perfume. Consequently, it is often seen in orchards and gardens in late spring to summer.
As an additional, it is worth mentioning that this plant is known as toxic with vomiting effects. However, there are countries that use its dried flowers as narcotics, because its smell induces sleep. Being used as a remedy for critical nervous states, epileptic states, as well as for diagnoses of tumors and leukemias.
How to grow the Lily?
Having the environment in favorable conditions, the lily plant will reproduce adequately and will live long periods. Depending on the species that is going to be cultivated, its sowing can be done either in spring or in summer. Following these tips you can have a beautiful crop of lilies.
Environmental conditions
The environment for this plant must be warm, where temperatures are between 18 and 24 degrees C. That is, when planting it, the planter cannot directly receive the cold, or artificial light, or ventilation ducts. It is also not recommended to place it near electrical appliances.
Prepare the soil
The soil must be in moist conditions, without being excessive, it must contain abundant organic matter to nourish the plant, for this reason, the mixture of soil for pots is recommended. Keeping for a better circulation of the water that favors the Azucena, a thickness of 15 centimeters and make holes with a separation between one and the other of 30 centimeters and an ideal depth of 7,5 centimeters.
The sowing process
First, there must be bone meal to spread in each hole before placing the bulbs, this fertilizer will allow the favorable growth of the plants. Second, having placed the bulbs in the holes, they must be covered with soil forming small elevations and add water.
care of these plants
It is important to bear in mind that having prepared the soil, other elements that should not be left aside are the lighting, which should not directly affect it, and the irrigation, which, as has been said, is not excessive, but neither is it scarce. Primordial elements because the Lily bulbs are fragile, they do not have the protective coat that other flowers have and they are easy to dry out.
It is advisable to give more nutrients to the plants, covering the garden or planting area with grass clippings, fallen leaves, herbs. These must be placed around the elevations made so that they do not hinder and give way to the growth of the stems, without any obstacle.
The ideal time for planting bulbs is late spring and summer. In this last season, the small bulbs that form with the larger one can be carefully removed and replanted to obtain a greater number of plants. Due to the fact that, if they are planted by seed, an average flowering period of four to five years will have to be expected.
Plagues and diseases
At this point, the attack it may receive from lice, aphids or bed bugs can be pointed out as the main enemies of the Lily plant. Similarly, by a fungus called Botrytis. With regard to the pest, it causes direct damage, observed in the most tender part of the plant, such as the lower leaves, as well as in the flower buds, causing deformations. As a treatment for its cure, the applications of aldicarb, dichlorvos, pirimicarb are presented.
In the same order of ideas, there is the Botrytis o Gray mold that attacks the plant in its stem, leaves and flowers, causing round spots of a pinkish-brown color. If the weather is dry, the leaves wither and dry up. If it is the opposite, there is a lot of humidity, the stain invades the entire leaf and is covered with gray mold, ending up rotting, the same happens with the stems. Hence, the diseased parts of the plant must be separated and burned.
In this sense, it is necessary to be vigilant and check the humidity of the place where the lilies are planted and in case, if you notice the beginning of an outbreak, take care that when watering the leaves, stems or delicate flowers get wet. As fungicidal treatment of last resort are inclozolin, procymidone among others.
Lily irrigation
In the first weeks after planting the bulb or bulbs, it is convenient to check that the soil is not dry. Therefore, the plant must be watered frequently in the first days. Subsequently, the irrigation periods can be two to three times a week, always vigilant that there is no excess and that there is adequate water drainage.
Being considered the flower of the Lily very decorative, it is frequently placed in the environments of houses, churches, offices in vases, which, to keep them fresh, is suggested to dissolve an aspirin in the water where they have been placed. And if the idea is to keep it in the garden for a long time, then we must be cautious in considering the aspects of planting, lighting and irrigation that are indicated for its care.
Medicinal Properties of the Lily
Lilies are very ornamental due to the beauty of their flowers, due to the variety of colors of their petals, white, pink, yellow and speckled. Apart from being striking in ancient times, humans used them to calm some diseases, proving their properties or benefits, which were transmitted in the traditions. Here are the following healing benefits:
- Being anti-inflammatory and analgesic by soaking its flowers in liquor to soothe blows and tears. It can also be used to heal burns, irritations, skin ulcers.
- When macerated in oil, its petals can be used topically to soothe earaches and stretch marks on the breasts.
- The bulb is used to treat the formation of boils as a poultice to eliminate them.
- Its petals can help control cases of cough.
To conclude, it is also found that another property of this plant is to serve as inspiration for the creation of poems:
“There was no flower more beautiful than Azucena
the one that was born in white, purity and gesture,
and with the step of an angel being honest,
filled her heart like a mermaid…..”
Louis Ray
I hope you liked this post, I invite you to also read about other plants and why take care of the environment: