This document provides information on the production technology of Alstroemeria, commonly known as the Peruvian lily or Inca lily. It discusses the species, varieties, climate and soil requirements, propagation methods, cultivation practices like planting, irrigation, and pest and disease management. The key points are that Alstroemeria is native to South America, grows well in cool sub-tropical climates, and its straight stems that last 2-3 weeks in water make it a popular cut flower for bouquets and arrangements.

1. PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
OF ALSTROEMERIA
S.G.MOHANAPOURANI
2015006028
II – B.Sc., Horticulture
HC&RIW , Trichy.

2. •Scientific name : Alstroemeria aurantiaca
•Common names : Peruvian lily or Inca lily
•Family : Alstroemeriaceae
•Native : South America
•Chromosome number : 2n = 16
•The genus Alstroemeria has about 60 species.
• Found in swamps, woodland, desert areas and hills.
• India : Nilgiris and Bangalore
•Cross pollinated crop

3. IMPORTANCE AND USES :
• Being a hardy perennial, Alstroemeria is easy to
grow in bed, border and plot, and are used for garden
display.
• Straight and erect flower stems of various colors
are used as cut flowers. The cut flowers stay fresh in
water for 2-3 weeks at 2-4°C.
• It can serve as a lovely flower in
arrangements and bouquets.
• The flower symbolizing for friendship, it grabs the

4. SPECIES :
Alstroemeria aurantiaca :
.Length of flowering stalk 60 – 100 cm
.Bright yellow coloured
.Compound umbel
.Outer segment green and inner ones spotted
brown

5. A. pelegrina :
.Flowering stem 30 cm or less
.Flower is 5cm long
.Lilac coloured flower
.Inner segments spotted red coloured
A. hookeri :
.Flowering stalk is about 45 – 60cm high
.Orange coloured
.Upper petals spotted and blotched with red and
yellow

6. VARIETIES :
•Red : Red Sunset,Valiant,King Cardinal
•Pink : Fiona,Capital,Rito,Olympic
•Red – purple:Marina,Purple Joy,Sunstar,Valeria
•Orange: Harlequin, Sunrise, Orange King
•Yellow: Canaria,Friendship,Orchid,Zebra
•Lavender: Barbara,Butterfly,Jupiter
•White: Amanda,Monalisa,
•Purple : Marina, Joy, Sunstar
•Salmon: Atlas

7. CLIMATE :
•Cool sub – tropical climate
•Does well in partial shade
•Easy to grow under cooler temperatures
•Optimum temperature : 10- 20˚C, RH 85-95%
SOIL :
•Well drained soil with pH between 6.0 and 6.5
•Soil should be sterilised with methyl bromide
•Should be rich in organic matter

8. SITE SELECTION :
•High and open land
•Should receive plenty of sunlight
LAND PREPARATION :
•Should be ploughed thoroughly
•Left under sun for 15 days to control weeds
•Depth of ploughing 15 – 20cm
•Plants are grown in raised beds

9. PROPAGATION :
• Seeds
•Division of clumps ( 1 year old plant 10-15 rhizomes )
•Micropropagation

10. PLANTING :
•Spacing is 60×45cm
•Depth of planting is 7-8 cm
•Grown for 3-4 years after planting
NUTRITION :
•600 ppm of 20-20-20 fertilizer on weekly basis during
flower production
•Should be frequently fertilised with Calcium nitrate
and potassium nitrate @ 100-200 ppm
•Superphosphate is mixed with soil before planting

11. INTERCULTURAL OPERATIONS :
•Weeding
•Shoot thinning:
Removing of thin blind shoots leads to quality bloom.
Young plants are thinned in spring whereas old
plants are thinned in autumn.
•Staking – to keep the plants and flowering stems
straight and erect

12. Mulching :
• The effect of black polythene mulch is positive in
growth and flowering.
Irrigation:
• Alstroemeria perform best when plant gets frequent,
fairly heavy irrigation. In autumn and winter, it
requires less water.

13. HARVESTING :
• Fully coloured but not opened
• Rapid upward pulling of the stems out of soil
• Yield = 80-100 blooms/ m2
STORAGE :
•Rhizomes are stored in cool places and not allowed to dry.
•Flowers are stored by wet preservation.

14. DISEASES :
•Pythium :
•Causes rooting of bulbs
•Controlled by soil sterilisation
•Fluralaxyl @ 0.2 %
•Rhizoctonia wilt:
• Under warm humid conditions
• Stems show rotting just above soil level.
• It can be controlled by sterilizing seed
bed with 4% Formalin at planting.

15. •Botrytis :
•Attacks the flower
•Incidence increases when the humidity is high
• Watering and ventilation should be restricted to
prevent the disease
MAJOR PESTS :
•Aphids
•Thrips
•White flies

16. Thank you ..

17. REFERENCES:
•Talukdar, M.C. ‘Alstroemeria’. Advances in Ornamental Horticulture
•Bose,T.K. et al. ‘Commercial Flowers’.
•Wikipedia.org/wiki/File:alstroemeria
•Sunset Western Garden book,1995:606-607