topic Re: Amaryllis in Community Chat

Amaryllis

lulu2 — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 21:47:58 GMT

I planted (in separate pots) 2 Amaryllis bulbs the first week of November. They are kept side by side in a sunny location. One is about 18" tall with a large bud. The other is about 1.5" tall.

So much for Christmas blooms.

Re: Amaryllis

LImom — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 23:39:22 GMT

Mine took a long time to bloom this year. Bloomed 3 weeks after Christmas. When it finished I cut it off and noticed another bud starting, which is now 12 inched tall. Also on my second round of paper whites.

Re: Amaryllis

millieshops — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 23:52:31 GMT

Sounds like my Christmas cactus which never blooms any time near Christmas. It is pretty when it blooms though.

I love amaryllis - such an elegant plant.

Re: Amaryllis

Puzzle Piece — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 00:22:37 GMT

It's happened to me. Nature just has its own ways. Enjoy them if you can.

Re: Amaryllis

Burnsite — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 01:41:38 GMT

Amaryllis are beautiful.

I received a gift narcissus from Harry and David that after a month is now about 4 feet in extent, but with little tiny sprigs at the end of some of the leaves.

It is really beautiful, about 6 times bigger than any I have ever seen. I don't like the smell of narcissus so I don't care that it is not covered in flowers.

I was away when it was delivered. My cat sitter opened the "live plant" package, watered it vigilantly, though. So she saw to it that it thrived. As the weather was mild, I would have moved it outdoors to the sun a bit earlier, but this has turned out really pretty with the mass of long green leaves and small tufts of flowers.

Re: Amaryllis

Say Nay — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 03:44:37 GMT

I received one for Christmas and planted it after the NY. It's about 4-5 inches tall now.

One question, what do you do after it blooms?

Re: Amaryllis

RainCityGirl — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 04:34:18 GMT

I was given one for Christmas. It now has two huge red buds just about ready to open. Did you know you can cut them and use them as vase flowers?

Re: Amaryllis

Yahooey — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 05:53:40 GMT

On 1/21/2015 Smaug said:
I received one for Christmas and planted it after the NY. It's about 4-5 inches tall now.

One question, what do you do after it blooms?

The bulb should be in dirt with the neck peeking out. I call it a neck but it is the top quarter of the bulb showing. Cut the bloom stalk off. Continue watering and place in sun. The plant will sprout new leaves and the bulb will become firm. It is replenishing itself after blooming.

If you just got this - let it bloom and continue water until Oct 2015. Off with the head. Use a knife and cut off the leaves in one swoop. The top of the bulb is still showing. Leave in a cool area until you see it start to grow leaves which will be in the springtime 2016. These plants are forced to bloom at Christmas - mine usually bloom late Spring.

So going forward. Spring is when it will start growing a new leaf and bloom. Once you see growth, gradually introduce it to sun. Bloom in late spring. Cut bloom stalk and continue to water until Oct. Cut off leaves with a knife and let it rest until you see come alive again. Good luck.

Re: Amaryllis

feline groovy — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 06:22:10 GMT

The Most Captivating Flower

The rhythms of my life are quite predictable. I wake up around the same time each morning. I get a paycheck every two weeks. Taxes are due same time next year. Then there is the pulsating traffic, dancing to the red and green and yellow lights. Coupons that expire. Water bills. Commercial television.

In a world where schedules rule, gardening has taught me to love unpredictability. The amaryllis bloom at Dr. Weil's ranch is an annual ritual that I have grown to love because it is both predictable and surprising, as it happens at precisely approximately almost around the same time every year.

To photograph the amaryllis robs it of its soul and stuffs it in a small box. But to see it in the flesh, to see it living, you will understand why Dr. Weil and so many others find this flower to be one of the most captivating of them all.

Bulbs should be purchased by mail or at the local nursery. Several mail-order companies send potted amaryllis for holiday gifts. Bare-root bulbs should be ordered no later than August. Bulbs are sold already potted or bare-rooted at the nursery. Potted bulbs should be purchased before the flower has opened. Bare-root bulbs should be substantial in size, symmetrical and free from any apparent mold. Though small bulbs will flower, they will not generally have enough energy to recover from blooming. If you plan on keeping your bulbs for next year, bigger is better.

Bare-root bulbs should look relatively fresh with plump roots forming at the base. If they look dry or damaged, soak the bulb in tepid water overnight. We plant our bulbs in Black Gold potting soil, mixing in a small amount of Bulbs Alive! bulb fertilizer made by Gardens Alive!. The bulb should fit the pot rather snugly, with just an inch or two between the bulb and the pot. Be sure to cover any drain holes (still allowing for some drainage) with a piece of broken pot or a small stone. Two-thirds of the bulb should be beneath soil level and a third of it above.

After the bulb is planted, water it thoroughly. Place the container in a warm location. Keep the soil slightly moist. The first growth will be an unmistakable diamond of green growing between the inner layers of the bulb. When this appears, move the bulb to a sunny, warm location. Continue to keep the soil moist.

When in full bloom, the plant can be moved to lower light to prolong its flowering period. Turn the pot occasionally when in bloom to correct any leaning. Often, the heavy flowers born on the end of long, tubular stalks need to be staked. Each bulb will produce two flower stalks over-lapping in succession. The flowers are each about as big as a hand. Each stalk will have four flowers, so each plant will have eight blooms. Be sure to remove the spent and faded flowers (the droopy petals of the more vibrant colorings will stain skin and clothing). After the flowers are finished, cut the stalk off at the base.

At this point, the strap leaves will begin to emerge. These leaves will partially replenish the energy (stored in the bulb) that the massive flowers used. Supplemental feeding will be necessary and should continue through the warm growing season. To get your amaryllis to bloom again the following season, you will need to give it a dormant period. At Dr. Weil's ranch we coincide our dormant period with the beginning of the cool weather in October and November. The bulbs should be kept nearly dry and stored in a cooler, shadier location. The leaves will die back and should be removed. After six to eight weeks of dormancy, water and fertilizing should begin again. Six to eight weeks after feeding and watering has resumed, your bulb should flower.

Dr. Weil says that the amaryllis blooms like slow fireworks. I say, if the gloom of December weather and the doom of the impending holidays hang over you, buy yourself and everyone you know an amaryllis. It's a great way to slow it all down. Invite the rhythms of nature back into your home. Taking a little time to check on the progress of your amaryllis will help you pause during the hectic holidays. You know, that brief period of time that begins precisely after you swallow the last bite of your Thanksgiving meal and ends at exactly right before stores close on December 24. Your amaryllis will be there for you through it all.

Instead of having to return your gift, give the gift that returns year after year.

(from drweil.com)

Re: Amaryllis

Allegheny — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 06:56:22 GMT

I potted mine about two weeks ago as I wanted the blooms in February. It is growing, but hasn't taken off yet. I don't try and keep and re-bloom them.

Re: Amaryllis

Shawnie — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 07:41:17 GMT

They are the most beautiful flower. I grew them for years in my home and in my office. Online you can find great instructions for propagating them. But one word of caution. They belong to the Lilly family and if eaten they are deadly to cats. So sadly I no longer keep them in my home. The risk is too great to my two little buddies.

Re: Amaryllis

Say Nay — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 15:40:30 GMT

Thanks for the info on what to do!

Re: Amaryllis

BeckiWV — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 17:08:45 GMT

They are beautiful any time. I had a boss once who would grow them at the office every Christmas season.

It was so fascinating to come in every day and see how much they would grow just overnight. Then the gorgeous blooms would appear. Lovely!

Re: Amaryllis

lulu2 — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 20:13:59 GMT

An update on amaryllis(es?) progress:

When I purchased the bulbs, both were labeled red and white stripe.

Today is the anniversary of a terribly sad event for me. I am home alone and it was snowing and quite gloomy this AM when I went to a remembrance Mass. When I came home, I went into the sun room and lo and behold, there was a huge, beautiful, pure white bloom. I took it as a sign from above.

As for the other amaryllis, it is now a whole 3". St. Patrick's Day?

Re: Amaryllis

MomOf4 — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 21:47:21 GMT

We received an Amaryllis plant for Christmas. There were 3 bulbs. In less than a month, 2 of them have grown to about 18". You can almost watch them grow. The 3rd one has only grown 3" but is at least growing.

I have a question. If they don't bloom until the end of the year, will they continue to grow at this rate? How tall will they get before blooming?

Re: Amaryllis

RedTop — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 03:43:28 GMT

MomOf4, Sometimes the amaryllis bulb just isn't mature enough to form a bud and bloom, but will have 2-3 shoots that grow as long as you will let them. When all I see is this type of growth, but no shoot with a bud, I trim the shoots back so that more growth goes into the bulb and not the green leaves. A bulb that is mature and ready to bloom, will usually show the formation of a bloom within at least 4 weeks of growing. Once these plants bloom, and the bloom dries up, you cut the green growth off and reduce watering, but still keep the bulb alive. After a usually resting period, the bulb will grow again, and hopefully bloom. I have 4 bulbs that have been blooming for me for at least 5 years; 2 red, one red and white, and one salmon color. My daughter is using one bulb in her classroom as a growing project for her special ed students.

Re: Amaryllis

MomOf4 — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 04:43:35 GMT

On 1/26/2015 RedTop said: MomOf4, Sometimes the amaryllis bulb just isn't mature enough to form a bud and bloom, but will have 2-3 shoots that grow as long as you will let them. When all I see is this type of growth, but no shoot with a bud, I trim the shoots back so that more growth goes into the bulb and not the green leaves. A bulb that is mature and ready to bloom, will usually show the formation of a bloom within at least 4 weeks of growing. Once these plants bloom, and the bloom dries up, you cut the green growth off and reduce watering, but still keep the bulb alive. After a usually resting period, the bulb will grow again, and hopefully bloom. I have 4 bulbs that have been blooming for me for at least 5 years; 2 red, one red and white, and one salmon color. My daughter is using one bulb in her classroom as a growing project for her special ed students.

Thank you SO much Red Top. I really appreciate the information. I have copied your post and keep it for future (and current) reference.

Re: Amaryllis

bells4me — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 19:19:33 GMT

I've tried twice & got one bloom. It is just too cold in my area.

Re: Amaryllis

muttmom — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 21:06:53 GMT

I have an Amaryllis that has a decent size bud but it's still not too tall.

lulu2,

What a nice, comforting surprise.