Introduction:
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Spider lily (Hymenocalisliterollis) is a perennial bulbous flower plant, belongs to family Amaryllidaceae and it is an important loose flower crop of South Gujarat. Most of the flowers are supplied to the big flower market Mumbai.
Spider lily is craze of South Gujarat among flower crops and also has first rank in flower production in this area. It is popularly being grown due to fetching remunerative price, pleasant fragrance and attractive white flowers. It is used promisely for loose flowers as garland, veni, gajra making and decoration of pergolas and stages in marriages. Flowers of this plant look like claws of spider, therefore, it is popularly known as spider lily.
Due to above mentioned importance and easy culture in this high rainfall area, the crop is gaining popularity among the growers. In South Gujarat, spider lily is
Soil and Climatic:
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Well drained and fertile loamy to medium black soils having pH range of 6-7 are more favourable for maximum flower production. Field can be prepared by one deep ploughing by disc plough in summer and followed ploughing with cultivator and leveling.
Spider lily requires tropical climate for successful cultivation. Therefore, typically tropical climatic conditions of South Gujarat suited best for production of profuse and perpetual quality flowers. Low temperature (below 150C) and dry climatic conditions inhibit the growth and quality of flowers.
Selection of Varieties:
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No specific cultivar is available, generally two types of spider lily in south Gujarat i.e. (1) Narrow and dark green leaved which produce flowering only in rainy season (2) Broad and medium green leaved which produce flowering round the year. Most of the farmers grow only broad and medium green leaved spider lily for commercial cultivation.
Planting details:
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Propagation
Spider lily commercially propagated through bulbs. Bulbs of 4-6 cm diameter are best for growth and yield.
Planting
Best planting time of spider lily is May-June months. It is a perennial bulbous flower crop, therefore, planting material is collected from 5-7 years old plants. Each plant produces around 7-10 bulbs which are digged out and separated from each other than cut the leaves and bulbs can be planted immediately after the harvesting. Bulbs are planted in 90 cm between line to line distance and 15-30 cm in plant to plant distance. Paired row system of planting can also be used (60 x 30x 120 cm). Bulbs should be shown in ‘V’ shave of leaves in lines.
Nutrition Management:
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Thirty tonne of well decomposed FYM is mixes thoroughly in soil before last ploughing. Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash are required at the rate of 300 kg, 225 kg and 200 kg per hectare annually. Phosphorus and Potash should be applied as basal dose before planting in first year and subsequently once in a year but Nitrogen should be applied in four equal split doses during the months of June, September, December and March.
Water Management :
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Irrigation depends upon the types of soil and environmental conditions. Generally, first irrigation is given lightly immediate after planting of bulbs. Subsequent irrigations are given at 3-7 days interval to maintain optimum soil moisture.
Crop Regulation:
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Weed control at initial stage of growth is very important cultural practice in spider lily. Generally, it requires one or two hand weeding at this stage. Thereafter, leaves of the crop are cut twice or thrice in a year and keep between the row as mulch. This practice helps in retaining soil moisture, managing weeds from the field and maintaining temperature in winter.
Earthling up is also an important cultural practice and is done after few days of bulb sprouting.
Pest and Disease Management:
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Lily caterpillar is most serious pest of this crop. It damages flower bud and leaves through cut or bore and it can be controlled by spraying of trizophos or deltamethrin (0.03%)
Yield and Post harvest practices:
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Harvesting of flower buds
Harvesting of buds is labour intensive and expensive practice. A matured unopened flower bud should be harvested from stock during morning or evening hours. Bundles of 50 buds are prepared by tying with fibers of lily flower stock. Bundles are kept in wet jute bags for transportation.
Spider lily is perennial crop and gives economical production up to 7-8 years. Maximum yield is obtained in summer compared to both winter and rainy seasons. It produces 27 to 30 lakh buds per ha/year.
