Odd Amaryllis

This past winter I've had two amaryllis bloom for me, both of which had what looked like 2 stems in one. There is a name for this occurence which I can't recall right now.

This amaryllis was carried over from its 2006 summer in the garden without a rest period, and it has done just fine. So that's the way I'll handle them from now on.

This one is called 'Toronto'

And here is the stem.

strange stem, but very pretty bloom. You must be a good Amaryllis Mom.

Very pretty Amaryllis, Joan. I don't know squat about Amaryllis but I remember reading about 'fasciated' scapes in hostas where the flowering scapes are fused together. Is that what they call it in the Amaryllis world too?

Sandy

How do you keep the foliage from dying back? I thought the rest period was un-escapable....

I've always had a hard time getting it to die back. :)

All I did was continue with light watering until I saw signs of growth, then began fertilizer. It's good to have a place where they're out of sight because they get unsightly. :)

I suppose I could have cut the leaves back half way, as the bulb had already stored the nutrition it needed from being out in the garden last summer when it got lots of fertilizer and sun.

It's the first time for me to carry one over so it bloomed well again.

Scapes may be a word for this, but I was given the latin name, which I can't find now.

This message was edited May 12, 2007 6:00 AM

Nice that it was such a pretty one to carry over.

Last summer, I took mine out of the pots and put them into the garden. In the fall, I dug them up, cut off the foliage and dried them. Then dusted them with bulb dust, planted in new soil and put in the cold storage. Of about 9, I had only 2 that didn't bloom, the best results I've ever had, but they were mostly just plain red ones (albeit spectacular when in bloom).

Hope you are able to carry it over longer.

Ann

Thanks Ann, it will be interesting to see how it does next year. I believe it's even better this year than last.

I have about a dozen amaryllis which I have always put outside in summer, right in the pots. Is there an advantage to putting them directly in the ground? I seem to remember Ken Girard (a Calgary garden guru) sayting they didn't like to be transplanted form their pots. Any thoughts on this?

Incidentally one of mine just sent out another stalk and is blooming again! Never had one this late.

Theresa

Theresa, I can't say anything for sure, but I've tried it both ways and had the best success I've ever had last year. It might have been the method or it might have been the garden location or it might have been the ample layer of new soil full of mushroom compost, who knows? I DO know that it is important to use bulb dust on them though as I've had bad luck with them having bugs that hatch and eat the bulb during the storage period.

Ann

My amarylls was taken from the pot and put in the earth, but I wouldn't do it again. If they need repotting, spring is the time to do it when they've got the summer to soak up all the good of being outside and getting strong for the next blooming, Meanwhile they're getting used to their new home. Then when it's time to take them in way less fuss and bother and no rude shock for the plant..