Fortnight Lily

Fortnight Lily Care

Dietes iridioides

What is the plant

The Fortnight Lily is a pure plant aesthetic. Its beautiful delicate flowers with yellow marks resemble splashes of watercolors on a pure white canvas. A true artist's choice!

Fortnite Lily goes by many names such as African Iris, Wild Iris, and Dietes (Moraea) iridioides. This perennial evergreen is native to Eastern and Southern Africa and can be identified by its prominent white flowers with distinctive splashes of color around the middle. Fortnight Lily is easy to grow and care for. However, this is a poisonous plant (both to animals and humans), so handle it carefully and keep an eye on your loved ones.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

5°C - 8°C

Hardiness zone

8b - 11

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

Toxicity

Poisonous

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Although these plants are drought-tolerant, try to keep the soil moist by abundant weekly watering until established. Remember, overwatering can result in root rot, so don't overdo it! A matured Lily only needs a sip once every 10 days.
Pruning
If you want more flowers, cut off the seed pod. Also, you can remove dead and wilted leaves at the base to encourage new growth. Some pruning can significantly help the your greenie conserve energy.
Fertilizer
Feeding Fortnight Lilies is completely optional, although you can use a balanced houseplant fertilizer to induce additional growth. Typically, good soil is enough to provide the plant with everything it needs.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
Since these flowers come from Africa, they are not afraid of direct sunlight. Actually, it's just the opposite! Dietes iridioides grows well in bright sun. A south-facing windowsill would be a great option.
Soil
The ideal option is well-drained soil with moderate content of natural fertilizers. Choose a universal balanced potting mix with perlite and moss.
Propagation
You can propagate your plant by seed, although this process can take some time. Another way is to divide the rhizome when transplanting.

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Temperature
Dietes iridioides is a heat-loving plant, so if you grow it outside, be sure to bring it indoors with the onset of cold weather. The minimum temperature it can withstand is 12°F (-10°C).
Container
The material of the containers does not matter, but it's best to make sure there are drainage holes. Choose spacious pots that allow the plant to develop its root system actively.
Fun fact
Dietes iridioides blooms in bursts with 2-week intervals. This is where the name "Fortnight Lily" comes from!