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Amaryllis Bulb

This is an Amaryllis which is really in the genus Hippeastrum. In northern climates it is a popular bulb that is sold before the holidays and forced into bloom indoors at Christmas and during the winter to early spring months. Keep the plant in a bright to sunny location while it's flowering and be sure that the soil isn't kept too soggy-wet because this can rot the bulb. Water it well when dry but don't let the pot sit in water that collects in gift-wrap foil or a saucer.

If you'd like to keep this bulb alive to bloom again next year, it isn't difficult, but you must do the following:
1. After flowering stops, clip off the spent flower but leave the stem as long as it's green. Cut it down when it turns yellow. Keep the plant in a sunny window, and begin to fertilize using either a time-release product or a liquid feed according to directions. Sometimes these bulbs put up another flower spike, but they usually just produce leaves at this point.
2. Transplant into a slightly larger, clay pot so the plant can be put outside once all danger of frost is past. Use good quality potting soil and don't cover the drainage hole or put anything but soil in the bottom of the pot.
3. Place the plant out in morning sun and afternoon shade for the summer and water when the soil looks dry. Continue to fertilize or apply a time-release fertilizer every two months.
4. In the fall leave the plant outside as it gets cooler but when frost is forecast or seems likely bring the plant into a cool, dark location and stop watering. The combination of the cool temperature and the dark will give the bulb a resting period. Cut off any dried leaves after they wilt.
5. After six or more weeks you can bring the pot into the house and place it in a warm, sunny location again. Start to water and begin the process all over again.
6. Repot every two years or when needed as the bulb begins to make new bulblets to the sides.
Enjoy!

By | 2015-12-12T02:12:57-08:00 December 12th, 2015|Bulb Plants|0 Comments

Amaryllis Bulb

This is an amaryllis which is in the genus Hippeastrum. In northern climates it is a popular bulb that is sold before the holidays and forced into bloom indoors at Christmas and during the winter to early spring months. Keep the plant in a bright to sunny location while it's flowering and be sure that the soil isn't kept swampy-wet because this can rot the bulb. Water it well when dry but don't let the pot sit in water that collects in gift-wrap foil or a saucer.

If you'd like to keep this bulb alive to bloom again next year, it isn't difficult, but you must do the following:
1. After flowering stops, clip off the spent flower but leave the stem as long as it's green. Cut it down when it turns yellow. Keep the plant in a sunny window, and begin to fertilize using either a time-release product or a liquid feed according to directions. Sometimes these bulbs put up another flower spike, but they usually just produce leaves at this point.
2. Transplant into a slightly larger, clay pot so the plant can be put outside once all danger of frost is past. Use good quality potting soil and don't cover the drainage hole or put anything but soil in the bottom of the pot.
3. Place the plant out in morning sun and afternoon shade for the summer and water when the soil looks dry. Continue to fertilize or apply a time-release fertilizer every two months.
4. In the fall leave the plant outside as it gets cooler but when frost is forecast or seems likely bring the plant into a cool, dark location and stop watering. The combination of the cool temperature and the dark will give the bulb a resting period. Cut off any dried leaves after they wilt.
5. After six or more weeks you can bring the pot into the house and place it in a warm, sunny location again. Start to water and begin the process all over again.
6. Repot every two years or when needed as the bulb begins to make new bulblets to the sides.
Enjoy!

By | 2015-12-08T01:33:11-08:00 December 8th, 2015|Bulb Plants|0 Comments

Amaryllis

Now we see the problem with better definition -- it appears that your bulb is the problem and has grown up to the foliage. We recommend that you dig the bulb up and inspect. If the bulb is infected we recommend it be thrown out -- these kind of diseases can race through a garden in no time at all and this one of the most serious diseases found in any garden. If by chance this is a very expensive bulb or has some personal significance to you, remove the infected parts of the bulb with a sharp knife to healthy tissue and then dip the bulb into a bleach solution of 15:1 (water/bleach) for fifteen seconds, let it air dry and replant in a container (do not re-introduce this to the garden) with good potting soil. The soil where the bulb was growing is also contaminated at this point. Take the remaining bleach mixture and pour over the area where the bulb was growing and allow to dry. This will kill any remaining fungus. You can replant the space in a few days with something else. We don't mean to cat dispersions on your bulb's heritage, but often these serious bulb rot problems arise from inadequate sanitary conditions found in some companies that sell bulbs. Re recommend that you carefully inspect any bulbs you purchase and be certain they are firm (not squishy like a bad onion). Peel the brown covering off (this won't hurt the bulb) to be certain the bulb white and not discolored. Culturally you can decrease watering, increase air circulations, and buy only healthy bulbs. If you have any further question please call me at Leu Gardens, Orlando, 407-246-2625 for further discussion.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:33-07:00 November 27th, 2015|Bulb Plants|0 Comments