Garden

[Allegheny]

Hi gardening forum buddies.

I've been reading several articles about preventing long stems when you plant amaryllis and paperwhite.  In other words stunting the stem growth to prevent them from growing too tall and falling over.

The articles said to water them with a ratio of alcohol mixed to water.  I am going to try it with one of the inexpensive kits that are available now.

I am curious if anyone else may have heard of this?

[ValuSkr]

I have done the alcohol thing with paperwhites, not amaryllis.  It does work to a degree(plants are not as tall) but when I unpotted them much later, they had almost no roots.  That was strange.   I don't think I'll be doing paperwhites any more because the last two years they attracted fungus gnats.

Here's a link to the Cornell study:

Pickling Your Paperwhites

[ValuSkr]

I don't think I'd do it with amaryllis, only because they have one stalk and it's not a big deal to support it with a stake.  Further, shouldn't they be planted in potting soil? 

[Allegheny]

@ValuSkr

Thanks for the link.  It is one of the several I read.  I even found one that outlined the ratio of water to alcohol.  I was specifically googling amaryllis, so the articles I read indicated it could be done with them also.  

A couple of articles I was reading even indicated you could put amaryllis in clean gravel, potting pebbles.  I have always thought they had to go into a soil less mix.  

Since I don't want to destroy the expensive bulb I just purchased, I am going to give it a try with one of those cheap bulb kits I can pick up for about $5 or less on sale.  

I'll let you know.  I figured if it stunts the stem, it could stunt the flower bloom also.

[JustJazzmom]

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@ValuSkr wrote:

I have done the alcohol thing with paperwhites, not amaryllis.  It does work to a degree(plants are not as tall) but when I unpotted them much later, they had almost no roots.  That was strange.   I don't think I'll be doing paperwhites any more because the last two years they attracted fungus gnats.

Here's a link to the Cornell study:

Pickling Your Paperwhites

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The fungus gnats were in the soil--- did you use fresh container or potting soil or used soil you already had in the house? You can decrease fungus gnats on soil by putting a layer of sand over the soil. The gnat larvae cannot get through the sand.

If you encounter fungus gnats again, remove the soil completely, rinse and dry out the pot and use fresh soil for houseplants in the pot.

[ValuSkr]

The paperwhites were in a container with stones and water..  I think the fungus gnats were breeding in the water.  And of course, once the paperwhites get tall, it's hard to change the water.  I have lots and lots of houseplants and am familiar with. fungus gnat control. 

[Allegheny]

@ValuSkr @JustJazzmom

I have another unrelated question.  I'm not much of a houseplant person.  I have a potted outdoor plant I would like to bring inside to overwinter.  If I leave it in the basement or garage it won't get  light.  If I bring it upstairs I worry about insects hatching which I am sure are in the soil.  How do I avoid that thus eliminating an all out war with my DH.

I vaguely remember years back reading something about leaching the soil by watering it with some home made concoction that kills off the critters and not the plant.  Something is sticking in my head its water and dish detergent.

Also, as my memory wanders, I remember way, way back in time my mother used to bring plain old garden soil inside the house and bake it in the oven, then her and Dad potted their seeds in it.  That was before the time when they sold pre packaged potting soils and potting mix.  Sure made the house stink.

[ValuSkr]

@Allegheny  I have ten or so potted plants that come inside for the winter.  I also worry about insects in the soil, so I repot them - remove from existing pot, shake as much soil as possible off the roots, and repot using fresh potting soil.  If using the same pot, I clean it very well before repotting.  It's a pain to be sure, and I've never seen insects in the soil while repotting, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.  They say you should also spray your plants well with water before bringing inside to eliminate aphids and other insects on leaves.  A sharp spray with a nozzle is said to be good, though I've never done this.

The other thing you mention is good too.  I break-up mosquito dunks (you can find them at Home Depot) and put them in my watering can.  They contain BTI, which kills mosquito larvae and, more importantly, fungus gnat larvae.  Even better, if you can find mosquito bits, which are the same as dunks but granular, you can sprinkle it on top of your houseplant soil.  I've never found it in a store, and haven't bothered to order online. 

Here's more info from the NPR program You Bet Your Garden:

Protect Houseplants From Pests

[RedTop]

I just pull the green leaves off to stimulate the bulb to form the bloom instead of growing the leaves.   Once they get about 4" high, you can tell there is no bud there, so pinch the leaf off.   I only let the leaves grow during the summer when the plant is growing on my front porch, and after it blooms.    

[ID2]

I used to buy an Amaryllis every year when my kids were little. It was amazing for them to watch how fast it grew! I have cats now that would dig in the dirt, so I don't buy them anymore.  Paperwhites, to me, have a horrendous odor that I cannot stomach so once was enough for me bringing those into my home.