Mexican Lily

Mexican Lily Care

Hippeastrum Reginae

What is the plant

Mexican Lily is a flowering perennial herbaceous plant native to northern Mexico. This plant is also widespread in Venezuela, Bolivia, and Brazil.

Other common names for Mexican Lily are Yucca-leaved Beschorneria and Hippeastrum Reginae. The plant has soft, sword-shaped leaves that can grow up to 20 in (50 cm) in length and are bluish-gray in color. The blossoming stems reach 6 ft (2 m) in height. Mexican Lily blooms from August till September with red, bright pendant flowers.

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Humidity

High

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

10°C - 25°C

Hardiness zone

8 - 11

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Water Mexican Lily sparingly when the plant starts to grow. Don't pour liquid directly on the bulb; water the plant from the bottom instead. Increase the amount of water after the peduncle forms in summer. Wait for the soil to dry completely before irrigating again.
Pruning
The pruning needs of Mexican Lily are limited. Hippeastrum has a rest period — from September till January. Leaves dry entirely and fall off during this cycle. It would help if you cut the stem and put the container in a dark, dry place with a temperature of 43-54°F (6-12°C). Leave a pot there for 1,5-2 months. Move the container back to the window after the rest period ends.
Fertilizer
Fertilize your Mexican Lily plant twice a month. When Hippeastrum grows, use liquid mineral fertilizer for leafy plants. After the flower stalk forms, provide your Lily with mineral fertilizers for flowering plants.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Mexican Lily is a sun-loving plant, so put in full sun during the growing season. In the rest period, from September to January, bring your plant to the dark spot.
Soil
Mexican Lily tolerates dry to medium, well-drained soils and humus-rich loam. The most desirable ground is a mixture of 1/3 sand and 2/3 garden substrate.
Propagation
Mexican Lily propagates by the seeds sown in spring. To breed the plant, remove the offsets and pot them up. The most desirable propagation temperature is 70°F (21°C).

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Temperature
The optimal temperature for Mexican Lily to grow intensively is 63-77°F (17-25°C). Hippeastrum tolerates the lowest temperature of 23°F (-5°C). Move the plant outside during the warm season.
Container
The distance from the bulb to the walls of the pot should be less than 0,8 in (20 mm). Make a drainage layer at the bottom of the container to prevent soil from stagnation and harmful bacteria.
Fun fact
Carl Linnaeus described Mexican Lily as a type species for the genus of Amaryllis in 1759. He called this plant Amaryllis Reginae. William Herbert renamed this plant Hippeastrum only 70 years later, in 1821.