Laperusia - an elegant room iris

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Laperusia is difficult not to notice in the flower collection. Unusual leaves in symmetrical bushes, a beautiful color, powerful peduncles and elegant flowers, somewhat reminiscent of irises, and something about freesias, seem outlandish. An African plant with bright flowering, laperusia requires a very long dormant period and proper flowering stimulation. She knows no equal among the elegant and well-leafy bulbs. And, despite some difficulties, it cannot be called the most capricious exotica among corms.

Content:

Laperusia is a modest relative of the iris with immodest flowers
Types of Indoor Laperuzia
Conditions for growing indoor laperusia
Laperuzia care at home
Diseases, pests and growing problems
Propagation of Laperuzia

Laperusia is a modest relative of the iris with immodest flowers

The irises in the rooms seem unbelievable. If we are talking about the familiar and beloved irises of bearded, Siberian, yellow or other garden species, then they really are difficult to grow in a room format. But in a huge and very diverse family of Iris flowers there are plants that feel good in a pot culture.

Although exclusive, but still stars of landscaping today are still freesia, gladiolus, montbrecia. Laperusia is not the most famous, but far from nondescript representative of the Irisaceae family. She is just beginning her indoor career, and it is extremely rare in our gardens. But among exotics, laperusia is rightfully considered one of the most promising.

The origin of laperuzia determines its exotic status and a rather capricious character. Laperusia are found mainly in tropical climates and are distributed throughout the African continent. The plant got its name in honor of a traveler (a famous navigator, see the Laperouse Strait between Sakhalin and Japan), who discovered many strange African plants for European collections - the Frenchman de Laperouse. Laperusia are mainly mountain plants that are found on slopes and in gorges.

Laperusia (Lapeirousia) - corms, medium-sized perennials of spring flowering. The corm changes shape from ovoid in young plants to an ever flatter subsequently. Fibrous, mesh scales also mature only in the second year. This bulb is equally good at both leaves and inflorescences. Unlike many indoor bulbous crops, laperusia produce numerous and spectacular leaves that adorn the plant and in addition to the flowering period. Laperusia is subdued with grace, it is a noble, bright and seemingly very delicate plant in which all the details are in harmony with each other.

The leaves of the laperusia are xiphoid, quite rigid, folded, with a beautiful medium vein. They grow from the bulb symmetrically, in two rows, fan, in many species are strictly and almost imbricated. The foliage, despite the fact that the bulb itself seems very compact, is surprising both in size and color. The leaves stretch to a length of 15 to 30 cm and are painted in a rich forest shade of dark green. Unlike the usual indoor bulb, laperusia grows in a lush and neat bush.

The flowering of laparusia deserves special attention. A plant on large, strong peduncles produces inflorescences-spikes of 6, 8 or 12 flowers. They do not bloom in turn, but in "lots" of 3-4 flowers, each flower lasts longer than most iris flowers - three days or a little more.

The structure of the flower is very beautiful. The corolla is almost saucer-shaped, flat, which only emphasizes the straight tube. The three lower petals on the flower show off dark spots at the very base of the petals, causing associations with iris flowers. Short stamens are crowned with unusually long anthers, stand out clearly in the throat of flowers. On average, the diameter of the flowers of laparusia does not exceed 2 cm, but they seem large, catchy and spectacular.

Indoor laperusia can be expelled, but most often plants are grown with the usual developmental cycle maintained - with flowering throughout the spring (from March to May), a dormant period - in dry and warm in the summer, with a cold content - in the calendar winter. Laperusia belong to the tuberous, undergoing a complete period of rest, dropping leaves. After flowering, the greenery of the plant gradually dries up, and the plant goes into a phase of dry dormancy.

The color scheme of laparusia is limited to just a few color options. Laperusia is usually associated with carmine flowers decorated with dark spots, but white, blue, or cream flowers are characteristic of certain species.

Even in the rooms of laperusia bear fruit. After flowering, rounded fruit boxes are tied, in which unusual shiny seeds of dark cherry color ripen by the beginning of summer. The seeds of laperuzia are quite large, about 3 mm in diameter.

Types of Indoor Laperuzia

It is difficult to call decorative, cultural laperuzia a variety of plants. About 60 species of these amazing corms are distinguished in the genus of laperuzia. In garden and indoor culture use 5 species.

Laperusia pyramidal (Lapeirousia pyramidalis) - A modest, but very decorative and unusual plant, the beauty of which can be fully appreciated only with time. Amazing leaves with a very elongated needle-shaped tip and a ribbed surface hug powerful shoots. Peduncle and leaves are colored the same, which only emphasizes the exoticism of laperuzia.

Spike-shaped inflorescences surprise with oval bracts of green color, from the sinuses of which graceful flowers rise on a thin peduncle. The flowers are delicate, creamy creamy white and very fragrant, with elegant pointed petals and a convex tube. Thin stamens with a bluish tint underline how massive the peduncle seems compared to the flowers themselves.

Crimson laperusia (Lapeirousia cruenta) It remains the most common of room laparusias and, most often, it is found in catalogs under this name, although it has recently been re-qualified as a freesia. Freesia loose (Freesia laxa) - a synonym name for crimson laperusia, which is considered the official name of the plant. The leaves of the plant in two-row rosettes can both be limited to 15 cm and grow up to 30 cm in length. Peduncles up to 30 cm tall bear one-sided and thick ears of inflorescences, in which up to 12 two-centimeter, bright pink, with a two-row corolla of flowers are collected.

Laperusia is resinous (Lapeirousia silenoides) - a very beautiful view with dark, pink and cherry flowers. The leaves are arranged in a tiled order, wrap around the stem, somewhat reminiscent of a pyramidal laperusia. Peduncles are crowned with unique single flowers with a stem-shaped tube and six corolla petals of perfect almond-shaped, arranged in two rows. Dark spots stand out at the base of the lower petals, and white spots on the upper.

Mountain laperusia (Lapeirousia montana) - A view with flowers resembling either Pushkinia or Hyacinths. With a peduncle height of up to 45 cm, this laperuzia is very small, only 1.5 cm in diameter, and produces up to four very large leaves. Linear basal leaves are combined with small stem. Compressed peduncles are crowned with panicles or umbrellas of inflorescences with very elegant flowers. The tube is thin, and the corolla is divided into sharp, graceful lobes of a delicate lilac color with a white spot at the center of the petals.

Oreogen Laperusia (Lapeirousia oreogena) - a very rare, collectible and extremely rare species, which today is increasingly touted as a fashionable exotic novelty for true lovers of valuable cultures. This plant surprises with an ultramarine, dark blue color of the corolla petals with dark triangular strokes in the center and an elegant cream goose paw. The linguistic shape of the petals does not allow the ureogen laparuzia to become similar to irises, but the color scheme recalls precisely about them. The leaves are beautiful, narrower, almost lanceolate, two-rowed, up to 20 cm long. Depending on the conditions, the ultramarine blue color may change to dark purple.

Conditions for growing indoor laperusia

This rare houseplant surprises with not so strict requirements for conditions. All that is needed for success in growing laperusia is a cold dormant period and adequate lighting. This is a freedom-loving culture that is afraid of drafts and cannot grow without fresh air.

Like most African tuberous exotics, laperuzia can rightfully be considered both a greenhouse and an indoor plant. In winter gardens for laperuzia it is much easier to create suitable conditions, but you can also grow this African in the rooms, you just need to make some efforts and be more attentive to the care.

Lighting and placement of laperuzia

Good lighting for laperuzia will not be needed only during the period from the beginning of leaf drying to transplantation. When the plant is in a state of complete rest in a dry environment, laperousia pots can even be placed in a dark place. But after transplantation, in spite of the cold content, laperuzia must be put up in a bright place with protection from direct sunlight. Bright light is needed until the leaves die.

Laperusia is a plant for growing on the windowsill. She is good in bedrooms, living rooms and large rooms. Not afraid of large collections and any neighbors.

Temperature and ventilation

Room temperatures are excellent for laperuzia in the active growth phase. The optimal temperature range is from +18 to +23 degrees, but it will not suffer in a hotter environment. All the difficulties with creating comfortable conditions are associated with the dormant period of the plant.

After flowering is completed, laperusia is kept warm, allowing the leaves to dry. The conditions of detention do not change even after their complete yellowing and dying, creating a dry warm environment for the rest period. In autumn, in October, after transplanting, the pots with onions are transferred to radically different conditions - in cool, the temperature is from +5 to +8 degrees.

In the cold wintering regimen, laperusia is kept until there are signs of leaf growth. Developing laperuzia return to room temperature, repeating the entire cycle. Plants can be grown with digging from the soil, but in this case there is a much greater risk of loss of bulbs from drying out, so consider safer the strategy of growing laperusia with a dry dormant period in the substrate.

Laperusia need regular ventilation. Plants do not respond very well to sudden changes in conditions during the stage of active growth (while the coolness will not harm them at all). When kept in the cold after transplantation, it is imperative to take care of the regular ventilation of the room.

Laperuzia care at home

Due to the long rest period, it is not at all difficult to take care of lapearies. The plant requires careful watering and frequent top dressing, and even novice growers would be able to take care of this bulb, if not for the requirement for careful correction of watering and special stimulation of flowering. For most of the year you don’t have to make even minimal efforts. The key point in the cultivation of laparusia is a smooth change in the departure from the active period of development to the resting stage and vice versa.

Watering and humidity

During the period of active development and flowering for laperuzia, it is easy to choose the right irrigation strategy. Preventing dampness, for this onion, maintain a stable substrate moisture, allowing the top layer to dry and draining the water from the trays immediately after this procedure.

For a period of rest, irrigation of laperusia is completely stopped. Plants switch to dry mode gradually, starting to reduce watering and increase the intervals between them as soon as the leaves begin to dry out. After complete drying of the leaves, plants with a dry substrate are transferred to comfortable conditions, stopping all water procedures. Watering resumes gradually and slowly, after transplanting, only slightly moistening the soil when kept in cold. Watering increases only with the beginning of leaf growth, and after the plants are brought into heat, they begin to carry out normal watering, allowing the top layer of the substrate to dry out and maintaining a stable, light humidity.

Fertilizing and fertilizer composition

Laperusia, like all corms, is fed only during the period of active growth. Top dressing begins after leaves appear and normal watering begins. It is advisable to increase the frequency of top dressing for this crop, compared to the standard, and apply fertilizer 1 time every 10 days until flowering is completed.

For laperuzia, there is no need to select special fertilizers for bulb or tuber. Standard full mineral fertilizers with a balanced ratio of the three main macroelements are quite suitable for her.

Trimming and shaping of laperusia

Any pruning procedures for this plant come down to the simplest measures:

removal of the peduncle after flowering;
removing dry leaves.

Transplant and substrate

Laperusia are transplanted between the dormant phase and the preparation for flowering in the cool. Plants are transplanted in October or November. For laperuzia, it is desirable to use medium-sized containers with a width exceeding the depth.

The key in the selection of a substrate for laperuzia is its nutritional value. This corm is planted in loose, light soil mixtures. You can use a ready-made universal substrate or soil for bulbs, or you can use the simplest soil mixture from the same portions of sand, humus and peat.

At the bottom of the pots they must lay not only high, but also coarse drainage with a large fraction. If the soil does not seem sufficiently loose in texture, loosening additives can be added to it - from sand to perlite or inert soil.

Laperusia never plant one bulb. The plant is placed in groups, from 6 to 8 pcs in a pot. After digging from the old substrate, the bulbs are inspected, separated, only dry or damaged roots are removed, trying not to injure the rest, they process places with signs of decay and soak all planting material in a light fungicide solution for 1 hour for disinfection. Before planting, the laperuzia bulbs must be dried. Corms are placed so that a few centimeters of soil remain between them. The plant does not tolerate strong deepening: set the bulbs horizontally, with growth points upward, so that the planting depth remains at the level of 3 cm.

Diseases, pests and growing problems

In a room culture, laperuzia can only suffer from poor care and inadequate conditions during dormancy. Pests and diseases on a plant that does not suffer from dampness do not occur. With an excess of moisture, laperusia can die from rot. Fighting with signs of wilting and damage to the bulbs can only be an emergency transplant.

Propagation of Laperuzia

The easiest way to reproduce for laparusia is to separate the children. Subsidiary corms are separated annually during transplantation. Usually, plants form them quite actively; annual bulbs can be separated without fear. The only thing you need to take care of is the careful handling of children who have not yet matured their scales. The rules for planting and growing for small laperuzia are no different from agricultural techniques recommended for adult plants.

Actively fruiting laperuzia is easy to grow from seeds. This is the only corm onion capable of blooming already in the year of sowing.The collected seeds are kept cool and dark until spring, sowing along with the first seedlings. Sowing is carried out in a peat-sand substrate, with a light cover of the soil. For laperuzia create standard conditions for growing seedlings. Dive is carried out after the appearance of two leaves. Seedlings are placed in the same groups as when growing adult plants.