Veltheimia

Family: Liliaceae. Veltheimia is a beautiful ornamental flowering and decorative-leaved plant; found in the eastern part of the Cape of South Africa.

Bulbous, well adapted to indoor conditions. Of the six species in this genus the most widespread are: V. viridifolia (green-flowered Veltheimia), Veltheimia capensis (V. capensis), and V. bracteata. The plant blooms in winter and early spring. In Europe this plant has come to be called "winter torch".

A pink racemose inflorescence, borne on a scape reaching 50 cm in length, appears in winter and spring. Unfortunately, the flowering plant must be kept in a cool place with temperatures not exceeding 10°C.

A bulbous perennial plant. The bulb, half-buried in the soil, is pyriform or ovoid, up to 7 cm in diam. Its outer scales are membranous, light brown or lilac. Leaves are light green, often spotted at the base, up to 30 cm long, 10–12 cm wide, ovate-lanceolate, wavy-edged, with several longitudinal folds, blunt at the tip or drawn out into a small point. Flowers are pendulous, gathered in a racemose inflorescence on a leafless scape up to 50 cm high. Pedicels are red-brown spotted in the lower part. The perianth is narrowly bell-shaped, almost cylindrical, up to 4 cm long; its base is light red and the upper part yellow-green. Native to South Africa. It grows on sandy hills, sea coasts, and in shady places. In cultivation since the mid-18th century.

Location: kept in cool (+12°C), well-lit rooms. Reacts negatively to drafts.

Light: Bright light

Watering: regular from spring to summer, strictly limited during the dormant period. After flowering reduce watering; after the leaves die back stop watering until growth begins

Humidity: Moderate

Care: The flowering plant should be kept in a cool place with a temperature not higher than +10°C–+12°C; under other conditions it is more difficult to achieve its flowering. Only during the formation of new leaves can the temperature be up to +20°C. Perhaps this is why Veltheimias are not very popular. After flowering the plant remains green until early summer, when the dormant period begins. In summer place pots with plants in a darker spot and water sparingly until they completely shed their leaves. At the end of September the leaves begin to regrow. At this time the bulbs should be repotted into fresh soil. The initial temperature for best bulb growth is +20°C, watering so that the soil is slightly moist. As soon as new leaves appear increased watering and feeding are required. The plant is moved to a cool room; in October–November the scape bud appears. Blooms from December–January to March–April. Feeding: from the start of leaf formation until their withering, every 4 weeks apply a half-concentrated flower fertilizer (without nitrogen).

Propagation: by bulb offsets in late summer or early autumn (optimal September), which are separated when repotting and planted several together in low, wide pots, not buried in the soil. Less often by seeds, which form after artificial pollination of the flowers. A plant grown from seed blooms in the 3rd–4th year.

Repotting: every two years, in September. When repotting carefully inspect the roots, removing all dried and rotted ones, and plant the bulb so that it protrudes one third above the soil surface. Pots should be large because the plant has large foliage. The soil mixture is composed of turf, leaf mold and sand.