Our cool spring made the crinum bloom

I have been growing these crinum for years and they have never bloomed as well as they did this year.

What a beautiful stand you have. I have been growing some kind of crinum for years and they have only bloomed one year out of the 6 or 7 that I have had them. I have several other varieties now and I hope that I have better luck with them. Which variety is the one in your photo?

Those are just gorgeous. I would also like to know which one that is?

I believe they are what we in the south refer to as Milk and Wine lily (Crinum x herbertii). A very old variety in the south. Almost all older homes and cemeteries had clumps of these. About ten years ago, the city where I live relocated a large group of homeowners, who lived along the river. Their homes flooded every few years. Long story shortened-they were going to bulldoze the houses and lots. I got permission to retrieve any plants I wanted. I and my neighbors all have tons of beautiful plants that were saved from the bulldozer.
Barbara

Barbara, that was a wonderful thing. Whenever houses here look like they are going to get bulldozed, I make it a point of checking for plants. I also sometimes find plants coming up the season after a lot has been razed. I got a bunch of amaryllis that way once.

Absolutly lovely. I got a few plants from a nice lady here on DG and I hope they will bloom some day. I have to grown in a pot, since it freezes up here :)

When Mitch moved to Oklahoma he gifted me with 5 plants. They are super healthy. Some in partial shade, heavy shade and pure sun. Nothing has a bud. The ground has been well amended. If I moved them in the fall will that set them back another year? They are so gorgeous I am envious of Bward. We have been over 100 degrees for several days and there is no end in sight. Mild summer last year and no blooms then either.

Any suggestions?

Christi

Ok , well I have a little story for you. Two weeks ago I said to my DH - we need to get that big crinum out of the back, it hardly ever blooms.
Today it has four huge bloomheads. A little threat will go a long way, apparently LOL.

Is it in the sun, shade, etc.? Feed it anything special?

congratulations.

I have probably a dozen or more crinums around the yard, different varieties. Some are in shade, most in full sun. I don't feed them at all .....
This particular one is on 50% shade.

Thank you. Guess I will just have be patient. Mine, too, are here, there, and yon.

Christi, Crinum like to be undisturbed and crowded to bloom well. I sprinkle a handful of Omoscote 14-14-14 once a year but they get a lot of water in summer and are on a slight rise so feet are not wet in summer. Also, it grows in full sun. We have had 106 temps for several days and a week of over 100. WE NEED RAIN.

Dutchlady1, I have used threats on plants for years. My threat is always-"if you don't bloom this year, you are out of here." I wish my threats worked as good as yours. LOL

Undisturbed huh? I didn't know that.

Well, I did move them last winter. Could be the problem. Mitch and Randy almost simotaneously (sp?) set up my garden. Everything I received just went wherever there was an empty spot. Not always the best for the plant. This winter, spring I have more than doubled the beds (more like 3xs) and have two more working now. DH is having a fit.
That is ok. After 48 years of marriage, he'll get over it.


Oh, wow!! Fledgling cardinal outside my window in the bird bath. He/she is grey with a rusty rail, big black eyes and black beak. his crest hasn't quite filled out and he looks like he has a strange haircut.

DutchLady1, At least in our area, the best flowering crinum are in old undisturbed clumps-not saying they will not bloom if single bulbs. Some of the bulbs I dug up at the razed house sites were larger than soft balls and smaller than cantaloupes. I cheated with larger bulbs. LOL

Well I have learned something today.