How to Grow Alstroemeria, and Why It's the Queen of Every Vase
Alstroemeria (also known as the Peruvian lily) comes from the wilds of South America, but today it's a huge star of Czech gardens and celebration vases alike. Growing alstroemeria isn't complicated as long as you follow a few basic rules, and it rewards you with a flood of colorful blooms. Here's how.
Growing Alstroemeria in the Garden: What Suits the Lily of the Incas?
A tip from Monika (owner of KvětinyExpres.cz and a passionate gardener): "I've been growing alstroemeria in my garden for years, and I swear by it. My personal experience? The key to success is truly well-draining soil. If your garden has heavy clay soil, the tubers can easily rot over winter or during a rainy spring. That's why, when planting, I always mix in a generous handful of sand and quality compost into the hole. And as for overwintering — if you live in a colder region like I do, don't rely on just a layer of conifer branches; instead, carefully dig up the tubers in autumn and store them. That one extra step guarantees you won't lose this exotic beauty."
Want to grow this exotic beauty yourself? Give it the right spot and watch out for winter frost:
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Location and light: A slightly sunny spot or bright partial shade is ideal. Avoid direct summer heat, which could scorch its delicate leaves.
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The right soil: Alstroemeria needs very well-draining, slightly acidic soil rich in nutrients. Heavy clay soil doesn't suit it.
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Watering: Keep the soil consistently slightly moist, but avoid overwatering. Water must never pool, or the delicate tubers will start to rot.
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Fertilizing: During the growing season, feed every 2–4 weeks with a fertilizer higher in potassium for an abundant set of blooms.
Overwintering (The Key to Success)
Most alstroemeria varieties aren't fully frost-hardy in our climate. In warmer regions (like South Moravia) you can try leaving it in the ground under a very thick layer of mulch or conifer branches. But if you want complete peace of mind, carefully dig up the tubers in autumn and store them somewhere cool and dry — much the way you would with dahlias.
Alstroemeria: The Secret Trump Card of Florists (Up to 14 Days in a Vase!)
While it brings joy in the garden throughout summer, in the world of floristry it's a year-round phenomenon. Alstroemeria itself is an absolute record-holder for longevity. While other flowers wilt in a vase, the Peruvian lily just keeps opening bud after bud.
Thanks to this extreme staying power and volume, alstroemeria has become an irreplaceable part of professional mixed bouquets. It beautifully complements luxury blooms and creates perfect harmony with them. A huge bestseller, for example, is the romantic spray rose and alstroemeria bouquet, which pairs elegance with a long vase life.
Don't feel like waiting for your garden's harvest? Treat yourself or a loved one right now. These bouquets are guaranteed to look gorgeous for weeks:
White rose with eustoma
1 850 Kč
Hazel Rose with alstromeria
1 550 Kč
Bouquet Autumn Garden
1 245 Kč
Bouquet cool
1 816 Kč
Alstroemeria
59 Kč
Caring for Cut Alstroemeria: An Expert's Advice
A tip from our head florist Andrea: "In mixed bouquets, alstroemeria is often the very last soldier standing. It commonly happens that the roses have already faded while the alstroemeria is still firm and beautiful. My personal tip? Don't throw out the whole bouquet at once. Pull out the healthy alstroemeria stems, trim them shorter, and put them in a smaller clean vase. They'll keep bringing you joy for another week, easily. It's a flower that really pays off for customers."
How can you improve the care even further?
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Cold water: It loves cooler, perfectly clean water.
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Remove the leaves: Always strip off any leaves that would sit below the waterline. They spoil quickly, rot, and cloud the water.
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Regular maintenance: Change the water in the vase every 3 days, and re-cut the stems on an angle by about 2 centimeters each time.
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Don't worry about closed buds: We commonly deliver bouquets where the alstroemeria is still closed. That's not a flaw, it's an advantage! In the warmth of your home, they'll develop their beautiful color in the vase and gradually open right before your eyes.
Why Order Flowers From KvětinyExpres.cz?
✅ Extreme freshness: Thanks to its great popularity, our alstroemeria never sits around. We always source it fresh straight from the Dutch flower auction.
✅ Reliable Airway delivery: Our flowers never travel dry in a box — they travel in temperature-controlled vehicles, standing in water, so they never suffer any heat shock.
✅ Speed: In Prague and other major cities, we deliver fragrant joy express, in as little as 120 minutes.
Article by Monika, KvětinyExpres.cz — updated August 2026
