Ron Wilson

Ron Wilson

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Plant of the Week - Amaryllis

This pick gives one of the best holiday and winter ‘flowering’ shows of all the holiday plants. And it makes a great Christmas gift for anyone. Amaryllis, takes 6-8 weeks to flower, and there are so many wonderful colorful selections on the market today, it is crazy! Grow them in a pot for colorful flowers for the holidays or colors during the winter. And if you live in Zone 8 or further south, you grow them in the ground! Want a Christmas gift that makes everyone happy (later)? Give an Amaryllis Bulb Kit. Note: When buying Amaryllis bulbs, the larger the bulb, the more flowers you will get. So, you’ll find smaller bulbs that are less expensive, and the more expensive are older, larger, and produce more flowers. You will also find them sold with the bulb covered in wax. These selections are self-contained, stand up on their own, and need no watering. And yes, are sold as a one-time flowering. Note: New idea for these: hanging the waxed bulb upside down and letting it flower! Crazy! (www.gardeners.com)

A Holiday favorite, Amaryllis is one of the easiest bulbs to bring into flower, not only for the Holidays, but to help brighten those dreary winter days. Here’s how you can be successful with your Amaryllis bulbs…

Starting Your Amaryllis

-Plant your Amaryllis bulb in a 6 or 8 inch pot that has drainage holes. Use a soil-less potting mix and bury the bulb up to its neck. Water well, and place the potted bulb in a bright, warm place. (No direct sunlight) -Water (use luke warm water) sparingly until the bulb produces a stem, then increase watering as needed. In general it takes 6-8 weeks for the bulb to flower. -The best temperatures for your Amaryllis are 65 to 70 degrees during the day, and a bit cooler at night to help extend the length of bloom. In some cases, flower stalks may need to be staked to prevent falling over.

Care After Flowering

-After the flowers have finished, cut the flower stalk back to the top of the bulb, leaving any foliage that has appeared. Continue to water and lightly feed (monthly) through the winter and early spring.

-Once the danger of frost has past, place the potted bulb outdoors in a partly sunny location to continue to grow and feed the bulb all summer long. Water as needed - feed monthly. Miracle Gro is a great fertilizer for these bulbs. Amaryllis bulbs are heavy feeders!

Getting Your Amaryllis to Flower Again

-Around September 1st (earlier if you want earlier re-flowering), stop watering the bulb. The leaves will yellow and begin to dry up. Remove the dead foliage, bring the bulb inside, and store in a cool dark place for a minimum of 6 -8 weeks. (50 degrees) Do not water. -6-8 weeks before you want flowers, bring the bulb back out, begin to water (lightly at first, until stems begin to appear), and then start the cycle all over again. -Bulbs that do not re-flower typically did not store enough food during the growing season, were stored too warm or too cold, or not given enough dormancy period. -Plant Amaryllis bulbs at different times to have flowering periods that will last all winter long. Remember, the larger the bulb, the more flower stems it will produce.


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