Garden

[babyb]

I was at a gathering in early December and won an Amaryllis bulb that came in a little boxed kit, complete with the pot and the potting soil. I was excited as I have always wanted one and came home and planted it that same evening, following all of the directions, which were pretty easy. It has not done a thing......still looks the same as in December. I lifted the bulb out to see if I should maybe just put it on top of the soil stuff and the bottom of it was covered with roots. Yikes! So I carefully put it back in the little hole.

Did I get a dud?

Do I need to be more patient?

[gardenman]

If you've got roots and the bulb isn't soft and squishy, you should be fine.

[babyb]

Nope...just checked....not soft and squishy at all.

The part above the soil stuff is a little green and a little brown flaked stuff. The top part.....the peak part.......has like little brown layers in it. Nothing green showing.

I do not water it much, as it seems to stay moist quite a while.

Should it be in direct sun? Not at all?

[candys mine]

I had one several years ago that didn't do a thing... until my nephew dropped it on the floor! After that I guess it figured it had better get growing or else because it grew fine after that!

[ValuSkr]

Make sure it's in a warm room (70+ degrees), and once it starts growing, gets a good deal of sunlight. Even with that, the bulbs are sometimes duds. I had one once that had all leaves but no flower stalk. As I understand it, the stalk usually comes up first, and the leaves follow.

[RedTop]

I think you need to be more patient. Remember this bulb has been in a dormant state, and needs to wake up to grow. Moisture will start the wake up process, but these bulbs do not like to be very wet, as they will rot from too much moisture. It takes very little water to grow an amaryllis; they only want a drink---not a bath. Let the roots pull moisture from the soil; do not put water on the bulb. The first sign you will see will be a green leaf tip peaking out from the dry brown top of the bulb. If the bulb is mature enough to bloom now, you should eventually see another green shoot that is thick on the end, which is the formation of the bloom. Sometimes your plant will have several green leaves that will grow as long as you let them, but never grow the stalk with a bloom on it, which means the bulb is not mature and ready to flower at this time. I have 4 amaryllis bulbs that I keep growing year round. When the bulb sends up the shoot with a visible bloom formation, but also tries to grow multiple green leaves, I cut the green leaves off, and send all the growth into the stalk with the bloom. Amaryllis bulbs do like to be near the light of a window, and once growing, the plant needs to be turned frequently, as they will lean and grow toward the light. Amaryllis bulbs are very easy to grow, and will do their thing, as long as you do not overwater.

[JustJazzmom]

This info sheet index is what we give to the homeowners when they want care instructions on amaryllis. Scroll down thru the A's and open up the amaryllis fact sheet.

[ID2]

I never had to be patient! My amaryllis bulbs would grow before my eyes! I think you got a dud.

[mom of 7]

Two Christmas' ago, I bought 2 Amarylis that grew but, never flowered. So, I threw the pots outside during the following Summer. Mother Nature knew what she was doing. Both of my plants had HUGE blossoms this past Christmas!

[CinNC]

I bought three different bulbs for Christmas this year. Planted all at the same time. Two bloomed pretty quickly. The other took much longer. Apparently it was a January blooming amaryllis (Red Pearl) not a Christmas blooming. Never knew there was such a thing.

It has been the most beautiful amaryllis I've ever had. Huge very dark red blooms. Two stalks that bloomed at separate times so it's been in flower for almost a month.

I also start mine in a glass of water to get the roots hydrated before I plant them. And ditto on the warm spot w/some sun.