Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
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Soil
Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost, with a slightly acidic pH.
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Position
Full sun.
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Frost tolerant
Winter hardy only in mild climates. Dormant alstroemeria roots can tolerate temperatures to 23°F (−5°C); a few cultivars are hardy to 14°F (-10°C).
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Feeding
Drench with a liquid organic fertilizer when plants begin to grow tall in late spring or early summer. Feed again in midsummer, after the first big flush of flowers appears, using a high phosphorous fertilizer intended to support strong blooming.
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Companions
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Spacing
Single Plants: 11" (30cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 11" (30cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Alstroemeria can be grown from seeds, but seedlings may not bloom for 2 to 3 years. It is much faster to start with a potted plant or dormant rhizomes in spring. The fleshy, finger-shaped roots should be planted as soon as they are received, setting them about 6 inches (15 cm) deep. Young plants need water when they are actively growing, but avoid keeping the plants too wet.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
In cold winter areas, use a deep mulch to reduce damage to the roots of alstroemerias grown in the ground. Bring containers into a cool basement and allow them to dry out. Let the dormant rhizomes rest in the soil-filled pots until spring.
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Harvesting
Instead of cutting stems as you would other cut flowers, grasp the flowering stem near the base and pull it out, then trim the end. This method encourages the plants to develop new bloom spikes. Cut alstroemeria stems last up to 14 days in a vase when trimmed and reset in fresh water every few days.
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Troubleshooting
Alstroemeria roots resent disturbance, and plants often skip a year of blooming after they are dug and divided. When clumps become crowded, after about three years, cut the tops of the plants back to 8 inches (20 cm) two weeks before digging or dividing. This gives the rhizomes time to prepare for the operation.
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