A few days after the torrential rain that hit Karachi a couple of years ago, our neighbours spotted something unusual in two of their plant beds. These beds, which had previously been neglected for months, were suddenly filled with a shiny, grass-like plant variety. A few days later, the beds were filled with blooming, unique and vibrant white, pink and yellow flowers.

The rain lily is a flower that surprises many people by blossoming in the aftermath of a period of rain — hence the name. Many believe that rain wakes up the blooming capacity of the plant. It is one of the easiest flower plants to grow and is hence highly recommended for new gardeners to grow. This evergreen plant continues to survive throughout the year, but it blooms to its fullest during and after the rainy season.

The plant can be grown from seeds, but the easier way to grow it is by using bulbs. The rain lily plant should be grown and contained in pots since it tends to spread quickly. When the pot fills up, the plant can be propagated and transplanted to prepare further pots as well. When grown in a small pot, a number of seeds can be sown to ensure that when the plants and flowers grow, they provide an aesthetically pleasing sight.

Personally, I always recommend people grow this plant in bunches. The grass-like foliage is shiny and less than a foot in height. The seeds are relatively small and black in colour. The seeds should be placed at least two to three inches into the soil. If a bulb is being opted for, then it should be sown into the ground in such a manner that there is a gap of six inches on either side.

Beginner gardeners should plant rain lilies because they are quick and easy to grow

However, the bulb can be grown very closely too, especially in pots. This is because the rain lily prefers crowding its plants together. The potting mix should always be well-drained and must not have any pebbles and stones to ensure better growth. The seeds usually germinate within a week or two in favourable conditions, ideally when the temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius. Bulbs can be planted throughout the year.

The rain lily plant thrives in direct sunlight. Therefore, the plant blooms in those regions that have at least eight to 10 months of sunlight available. The rain lily plant should be watered regularly throughout the year. If the plant is not watered well, it may survive, but flowers usually bloom after a rain shower. The important thing to consider is that the plant suffers in waterlogged soil or if there is water standing on the surface. Hence, drainage is essential. There is no special need for any specific fertiliser for this plant. However, a thin layer of compost can be added to the soil surface after a couple of months.

The flower, after drying and dying off, leaves behind a very small pod of seeds just below the petals. The seeds for the next season can be harvested from that sac. Whether it is the harvested seeds or the bulbs, these should be kept in a cool, dry place until the next flowering season arrives.

Although hardly any pests attack this plant, mealy bugs, spider mites and aphids may attack rain lilies in some cases. Every now and then, the plant leaves should be thoroughly searched for any of these bugs and sprayed with organic pesticides every few weeks.

Please send your queries and emails to doctree101@hotmail.com. The writer is a physician and a host for the YouTube channel ‘DocTree Gardening’ promoting organic kitchen gardening

Published in Dawn, EOS, October 8th, 2023