Amaryllis

[bobbiwoz]

I keep about 10 amaryllises from year to year. In the summer they are outside in pots in a shady area. I cut the green off in the fall, set them in the basement until Dec. or Jan. when they show signs of budding or leafing and bring them into light. Usually, I bring them in the house at the end of Oct. but I'm tempted to bring them in now, we're scheduled for an early frost. I'm wondering if bringing them in earlier will affect the flowering at all. They do not all come into flower bud together, there's usually about 2 months between the first and the last awakening. Not all bloom each year.

I do this because I just couldn't bear to throw out what seemed to be a good plant and now some friends and relatives donate their plant to me, and I try to give them back the following year.

Will it hurt the plants if I bring them in and stop watering them this early?

Thank you for the info about the hummingbirds. I just refilled my feeder in case there are any migrating birds passing by. I haven't seen any birds in the past 2 weeks, however.

 

[amid chaos]

Wow..I am impressed . No, I don't think it would bother them much..go ahead and bring them in.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I do this every year too, but mine didn't bloom this last time. It has great foliage now, so I brought it in a couple nights ago (we have had frost a couple of times already) and will cut it back and put it in the closet until just before Christmas. I usually bring it out mid December. I used to have a lot of them, but somehow have dwindled down to just one.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We did get frost, the pumpkin plants are done for sure. I've brought the amaryllises in to the basement. I'll look for them a little earlier, sometimes I don't see life until February,

I don't know why they don't all bloom each year, I try to keep an account of the ones that don't, and plan to get rid of them, but I don't. They all have such nice leaves.

 

[Snowwark]

Welcome to the F&G board, Bobbiwoz.

That's very generous of you, to be the keeper and nurturer of the amaryllises for your friends and relatives.

Here's a site ~Mad about Amaryllis ~ that you might find interesting, especially the "After The Big Show" section.

Yes, I think the hummers have flown the coop. Wish I was off to somewhere warmer too!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'll make a note of that web site in my garden journal. I've not done the "end of season" the way it describes, but I'd be willing to try that next year. I know that Clivias are in the amaryllis family, and I do not have success with having them bloom year to year. It's been about 8 years since mine have bloomed. I've given a few away and one of them blooms consistently for my friend. Do you have clivias? I've read in "Making Things Grow" that they also are from South Africa and will bloom after the dry season. I wonder if I should take one of them downstairs and let it wither.

I taught math in middle school, and I loved to bring an amaryllis in, because it was so easy to "see" it grow. We would measure it once a week, and the students made charts. And the bloom in the end was like a prize!

I am so glad that I found this board, Snowwark, and thank you for the welcome.

Bobbi

 

[Snowwark]

Bobbi, I'd never heard of Clivias before, until you mentioned them. I had a look around and found some info...Right Here . They sound/look very cool, and you are VERY patient to keep working on getting them to bloom for 8 years!!! I admire that!!

BTW, thank you, for finding us! The more the merrier.


Kim

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thank you, Snowwark! I have e-mailed the author for clarification, but I do know firsthand of the deterioration of roots. I have never ever seen this suggestion. If I am successful, it will be my inspiration to get a digital camera and learn how to use it. All my clivias, have come from the plants that I began as seeds 15 years ago, or are shoots that have sprung up from these plants.

I am sooo excited!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I came to this board with my amaryllis question, and I've stayed for the new friends that I've met, but I just wanted to tell you about the amaryllises. This year has been the best, I'm having 5 amaryllises blooming out of the 10, and the best that I've done in previous years has been 4.

At the Philadelphia Flower show, there is a category for multiple flowering bulbs, and there were pots with 5-8 amaryllis bulbs all connected and blooming. In the past, I thought that the little babies had to be separated, but now, I'm determined to get one of these clumps to bloom, of course, now I have to wait for some clumps to develop! I have 2 "babies" in a nursery pot, too bad. I went to the show 6 months too late to begin my new project ahead of the game.

Bobbi

 

[amid chaos]

Bobbi..I bet theya re beautiful, I have never heard of the cluster bulbs either. maybe because I have never gotten that far...LOL

Mine just started blooming...it has a home in the bath room.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Mine has an 8" flower stock now too.

 

[chrissyt27]

I got one around Thanksgiving and it bloomed at Christmas. 2 lovely Red flowers and then towords the end of January 2 more red flowers bloomed. My mom got off the stalks. I am hoping it will be okay over the summer. My mom thinks we should let it dry out, but I still give it a little water. Am i suppsoed to?

chrissy

 

[chrissyt27]

I went to the Mad About Amaryllis link and it has been very helpful. I hope to make mine last. I will have to post a picture because it was so pretty.

chrissy