Бовиэя

Family Liliaceae. Widely distributed in the USA and the United Kingdom.

An exotic plant of the Liliaceae family. It is classed among bottle plants because of the shape of the stem, a terrestrial bulb in which nutrients and water are stored. Its unusual appearance attracts enthusiasts of exotics, and more and more growers cultivate Бовиэя, using it in compositions combined with other plants. Бовиэя is a bulbous plant. The large bulb is positioned half above the soil surface. In winter weak twining stems grow from it, reaching from 1 to 2 m in length and branching at the ends. In spring small leaves and greenish flowers appear on the bare stems; they have no ornamental value and soon wither.

Placement: Бовиэя prefers bright rooms with moderate temperatures. It tolerates a drop in temperature down to 12 °C. When keeping this plant in light, direct sunlight should be avoided, as the thin and weak stems of Бовиэя are extremely sensitive and can suffer burns.

Care: This delicate plant is at the same time quite undemanding. For most of the year moderate watering is sufficient. In winter, before the shoots appear, it is necessary to ensure the soil remains moist. After the leaves and flowers die back, watering should be stopped, since Бовиэя remains dormant throughout the summer. The plant does not require misting or frequent feeding. A complete mineral fertilizer applied to the soil in which Бовиэя grows once every two months is sufficient. During the active growth period small offsets appear on the large bulb, and as they fill the container, repotting is necessary. The soil mix for Бовиэя should not be too heavy: two parts leaf soil, one part turf (sod) soil and one part sand. When repotting it is necessary to provide good drainage so that the roots do not become waterlogged.

Propagation: Бовиэя is propagated by small bulblets (offset bulbs) separated from the parent during repotting. Unplanted bulblets can be stored in a dark, cool place.