Crinum lily grow and care – herbaceous geophyte of the genus Crinum also known as Swamp lily, Crinum lily perennial evergreen or semi deciduous used as ornamental fragrant plant, can grow in tropics, subtropics, temperate or mediterranean climate and growing in hardiness zone 7+.
Crinum lily leaves and flower
Leaves color green, red or purple in linear shape and grow connected group as a spike.
Flower fragrant color can be: pink, white, red, purple, can be more them one color sometime the flower has light or darker color in the middle of the petals, shape of the flower “like trumpet”.
Heavy soil, wet land or swamp, the plant prefer rich soil with organic matter
How to care: Add fertilizer for blooming in the moment that the bulb start to grow after blooming add fertilizer for growing leaves, it’s will make the bulb stronger, also better to add chopped mulch it’s keep the moist of the soil
What is the best way to start growing? Plant, seeds (explanation bellow), bulbs, vegetative reproduction
Propagation by bulbs: Propagating by bulb can be all the year but better to do so in the autumn to mid of the winter, the moment that the leaves die can start to divide the bulbs, just separate from the mother plant
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? No, when start from seeds the flowers will be the same but it will takes few years until blooming and its harder start by seeds than bulbs
Propagation by bulbs: Propagating by bulb can be all the year but better to do so in the autumn to mid of the winter, the moment that the leaves die can start to divide the bulbs, just separate from the mother plant
Difficulties or problems when growing: Aggressive
Recommended planting season? Spring in hardiness zone 7, spring to summer in hardiness zone 8-9, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 10, all year in hardiness zone 11
How to plant the bulb: Planting in the beginning of the season, dig bigger hole than the 5 times more than the bulb, add humus and organic matter mix it with the soil, plant the bulb 2cm (1inch) from the top of the bulb and transplanting in the dormant season
Growth speed in optimal condition: Medium growing / Slow growing (when the plant young)
Water requirement: Average amount of water / Big amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun / Half Shade
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? No
Growing is also possible in pots, planter, flowerpot or containers: Yes, when growing in pots the plant (with one bulb can grow in 5L (1 gallon) and possible and better 10L (2 gallon), well-drained soil and better to use potting mix or something similar, every few need to check the soil that it’s still viable and if not take care of the soil by washing the old soil and put new, but in order to get flowers after a lot years need to check that the roots system not fill all the planter, if it’s full need to reduce that amount of plants or to increase the size of the container
Blooming information
Bloom season: Spring
General information about the flower: Fragrant flowers, color can be: pink, white, red, purple, can be more them one color sometime the flower has light or darker color in the middle of the petals, shape of the flower “like trumpet”.
How to grow Crinum lily from seeds
Sowing requirement: Temperature 15-25C (60-77F), soak the seeds at least 24 hours, keep high humidity and moist soil
Saving seeds and care until sowing: In the refrigerator in dark and dry location
Sowing season: End of the summer to autumn
How to plant: Plant in peat soil or other heavy soil the keep the moist
Planting spacing: For transplant 2*2cm (1*1 inch) and directly 10*10cm (4*4 inches)
Depth of Sowing: 0.5cm (0.25 inch)
Conditions for seeds germinate: Moist soil, high humidity and half shade to full sun
Watering requires for Seeds: Average amount of water / Big amount of water (don’t let it dry)
Germination time: 2-10 weeks and might take longer
Condition of seedling: Moist soil, full sun, better temperature not above 15-25C (60-77F)
