Big and Blousy

[charlie]

My wife was given one of these 2 years ago we bought a second last year as it had done so well flowering for weeks, and we are surprised to see the original flowering again this year after a winters rest (don't normally do well with bulbs and orchids that need a winters rest)

002 by charliepridham, on Flickr

003 by charliepridham, on Flickr
They dont appear to need much heat in winter

[islandcassie]

They have to be one of the best guaranteed-to-come-back-next-year bulbs and I had them for many years - really like 'em. That one is an unusual colour.

[Chad]

The only problem is that they do come back each year. Then friends and familly give you theirs as they go over and then...




They seem to be 'tunnel hardy' - this lot saw -3 but were quite dry.

The smaller Sonatini strains are more stable in the pots which helps.

Chad.

[islandcassie]

Well Chad - sometimes it is nice to have something you don't have to sweat over - unless the sweating is what makes it worthwhile! (I will stop here before the ribald comments!)

[Phemie]

Stunning flower Charlie. I agree that they are almost too easy I now have far too many pots of this plant.

[LONGK]

My only one is H.cybister. Here it is last May...............


Bloomed again in the New Year after I left it out in minus 5c - needs cold to encourage blooming, but I thought that I may have overdone it at that!

[Phemie]

Wonderful. You certainly did something right!

[flounder]

Are we calling these amaryllis or hippeastrum? For some reason, mine only flower every other year. One in flower now is a white/blush pink whilst my blood red type one has decided to multiply but only producing a mass of leaves. I love 'em but find them so infuriating

[LONGK]

Are we calling these amaryllis or hippeastrum?

As I understand it, although both are members of the Amaryllidaceae family the true Amaryllis is from the African continent (and has just a handful of recognized species) whereas the Hippaestrum are from the Americas and have many recognized species. So we're talking Hippaestrum?

For some reason, mine only flower every other year. One in flower now is a white/blush pink whilst my blood red type one has decided to multiply but only producing a mass of leaves. I love 'em but find them so infuriating

The ones that are sold before christmas have been pre-forced. I assume that you do something similar? My H.cybister frustrated me massively until I really gave it some frost which works a treat! I'm not suggesting going that cold, but maybe colder and even drier?

[charlie]

Mine are flowering now inside the house, once they are over they go somewhere light but unheated will be fed and watered while the leaves grow, then as they go dormant we allow them to be quite cold certainly down to zero on occasions and keep them on the dry side, when signs of life start to re emerge they come back into the house. I can't claim any expertise with these but they seem to need dry cold rest period and feeding while in leaf then as Chad said earlier in the thread they are embarrassingly easy!