Home » Plants & Animals » Perennials » Growing Alstroemerias

Growing Alstroemerias

© Jojo Sigurgeirson

After an extensive web search this morning, I found that there is little to nothing on the cultivation of Astroemerias in the garden, or not as far as I could find. I love these plants, and don't think they should be overlooked, so here is this article for you, the Alstroemeria gardener.

Alstroemerias are named after Swedish botanist Baron Klas von Astroemer. They're also known as the Peruvian or Inca Lily and the Ulster Mary.

Planting Alstroemerias
Alstroemerias are sometimes sold as a bagged perennial, alongside ferns and daylilies and astilbes. The thing is with Alstroemerias, their roots are actually quite delicate and brittle. If you get one in a bag, be careful to pick one that doesn't look like it's been crushed or through the mill. Prepare a loose, rich soil mix where you intend to plant. Site in a warm, sunny spot. Set the roots in the hole with their roots spread out. They should be grown in moist, but well-drained, fertile soil.

If you purchase a plant in a pot (a much better idea), be sure to follow the above instructions, preparing the soil BEFORE removing the plant from the pot. The alstroemeria should be planted at the correct depth for your region already, although this is not always possible in a gallon pot, and certainly not possible in a smaller one.

• ZONE 9 and 10 - roots should be set near the surface
• ZONE 8 - roots should be set just under the surface or 2 to 3 inches from the surface
• ZONE 7 - Plant roots 5 to 6 inches deep
• ZONE 6 - Plant roots up to 8 inches deep

By planting the roots deeper, the juicy tubers will be protected from winter freezing. On the other hand, they will be more difficult to extract and divide, so be sure to plant them low in the ground ONLY if you intend to leave the plants outdoors for the winter. For more information on that, see Overwintering Alstroemerias below.

Fertilizing Alstroemerias
If they are planted in fertile, organic-rich soil, they will perform beautifully. An annual side-dressing of compost or manure each spring will be plenty. Be sure when spreading manure or compost, not to cover the new, emerging shoots. Instead, broadcast the ammendment with your hands, seiving it through your fingers as you go. Gloves or no, this method of spreading manure or compost on perennials will ensure you broadcast evenly and where it is needed. Broadcasting with a shovel is simply too heavy handed and fine compost will probably be wasted.

Alstroemeria 'Pacific Sunset'	Alstroemeria pulchella	Alstroemeria ligtu

The copyright of the article Growing Alstroemerias in Perennials is owned by . Permission to republish Growing Alstroemerias in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.