Growing Nerine.

Latest Update 13th April 2021.

Nerine "Winter Cheer"

• These beautiful members of the  Amaryllidoideae family are native to South Africa and they grow well here in Melbourne which has a similar climate. I grow them under my Dwarf Nectarine tree where they are protected in our hot summers but get enough light in autumn to bring on a showy display in early winter.
• Nerine reproduce by developing small offsets (baby bulbs) on the sides of the mother bulbs. They also produce seeds, allowing them, over time, to fill in and create large patches of brilliant blue bells in spring.

Details

• Binomial Name:                                   Nerine Bowdenii.
• Family:                                               Amaryllidoideae.
• Garden bed type:                                 Drip line irrigated.
• Plant Spacings:                                   300mm.
• Climate:                                              Warm Temperate.
• Geography:                                         Southern Hemisphere.

Growing Conditions:

• They are dormant in winter, and as they die back use the nutrients in their foliage to help develop the new bulbs.
• They require very little water and grow well in my active organic soil, and benefit from an early autumn dressing of homemade compost and mulch.
• Minimise soil disturbances to maintain a natural soil structure.

Propagating new plants.

• To propagate Nerine Winter Cheer, harvest a few of the offsets or small bulbs on the side of the parent bulb in spring and plant them in prepared soil about 100mm apart. They reproduce quickly and will fill the available space.
• To control them simply dig up a few bulbs around the edge of the patch and replant them elsewhere or dispose of them in your hot compost.

Preparing a new bed.

• Clear a space for your new plants in early autumn and dispose of any organic waste in the compost.
• Apply a 60mm thick top dressing of home made compost and cover with fresh straw mulch.
• Leave for 4 weeks to boost worm and microbial activity.

Growing Instructions

• In autumn move some of the mulch to one side and press the bulbs into the soil pointy end facing upwards 100mm apart. Water it in well with dilute seaweed extract.
• The bulbs will grow flowers first in winter followed by foliage when the flowers begin to die back.
• Prune the whole plant to the ground in early autumn and top dress with homemade compost covered with straw mulch.
• Spray the plant's foliage with aerated compost tea when it emerges in winter.

Organic Pest Control.

• Regular foliar sprays of aerated compost tea boosts the natural defenses of plants by colonising the leaf surfaces with beneficial microbes. These microbes defend the plant against airborne pests and diseases.
• Similarly, proper soil preparation including annual applications of home made compost boosts the community of beneficial microbes, which overpower pathogens by sheer weight of numbers.