Amaryllis coop, pictures, questions, sharing and chat

I was half-hearted when choosing this one, I just started to develop my taste for orange colors... but let me tell you, YUMMY!

This is the Aphrodite I planted on Nov. 8th. Not a great picture but I think this might be my favorite so far...

this really is a brazillian times better in person :-)

this is the Black Pearl getting ready to open any day now.

Your Aphrodite looks more like Papillo.

Here the link to Blooming Bulb so you can compare.

http://www.bloomingbulb.com/CartBulbs.asp?Category=270&bulbs=Amaryllis%20-Regular%20Sized&parent=3133

Yeah, I agree, that's NOT aphrodite. I am kind of irritated that these aren't turning out to be what they are supposed to be. It is really pretty though.

Susan
=^..^=

I second Robin, that looks like a Papillio to me too. A top favorite here as well!
Beautiful, Wine! And they both match perfectly to your DGname! (unless you declare yourself a white wine, and hey! even then, still matching!) Any plans of playing bee?

I was just getting ready to post about Papillo when I decided to read what the others had said and I agree. Not Aprhodite. I bought that one for my sister for her birthday. Papillo.

I really am anxious to see the Black Pearl. It looks like it is going to be gorgeous.

What is the one below it going to be? Or is that a picture of the same one? I bought my same sister a Lima for Christmas but she is in Arizona 'till the first of the year and it is getting ready to bloom in my kitchen so we shall see. I got it from easytogrowbulbs.com. These are really different. Kind of fun. I will take a picture of it when it blooms.

Jeanette

This is my 2nd time to ask this question.
Since so many of these seem to have been misslabeled, AND the prices were based on the specific bulb type....
What, if any recourse do we have?
Has anyone notified the bulb shippers of the errors??

Well Birdie, I think that even tho some were mixed up, all of the plants are nice, the bulbs are healthy, the blooms are pretty, so everyone seems to be satisfied. I suppose if you aren't, then maybe you can contact either Cathy, the hostess, or the grower direct. I think I would talk to Cathy about it first. Then if you still are not satisfied, contact the grower and maybe you can return them for the correct bulbs.

I don't know what else to tell you.

Jeanette

None of mine were mislabeled, I'm very satisfied. I don't think it is Blooming bulbs fault either, it probably came to them from the supplier. At least we can go to their web site and compare with those pics.

I finally have a pasadena blooming - but the leaves are curled on it and it is not nearly as pretty as the ones shown above. Maybe the next blooms will be better.

The three bulbs that I had from last year from J & P...the stalks are getting really tall - probably 16 -18" but no sign on a bloom. I am having trouble with the stalks wanting to fall over ... completely over - almost look like they will break off of the bulb. Suggestions on what I should do? NO ONE around here carries the stake things with the top on them...... is there something I can improvise with? they look pitiful when they fall over ,.... is it a lack of sunlight ? or just normal??
Thanks
Genna

I use dowel rods and yarn.

I would think the bamboo stakes, or anything like that. As Robyn said the dowels and ties.

I got those stakes you are talking about at Lowes. 57 cents on up to $1 something. I think each additional couple of inches was another 10 cents.

I'll tell you where they were at Lowes. They had put them away with the summer stuff. I made her go out to the storage area in the chainlink areas where they put things like that. I went with her and picked out the ones I wanted.

Try that. Jeanette

I think I have some dowel rods in the shop.... (my husband will never miss them! LOL) and the nearest Lowe's is 2 hrs away.... but I need to stock up come Spring!

THANKS - I don't know why I can't think currently....maybe something to do with STRESS!!!

Genna

I am 2 hrs away from Lowes also. I got them when I put in my order for the bulbs but nobody has used them. Wish I could send you some. They are kind of hard to mail.

There is a lot of stress this time of year. I guess that is why I never was fond of it. The best thing about it is that it is another year before it comes around again and spring is only 4 months away.

Jeanette

There was a DG member that wrote out (with pictures) how to make what appeared to be wonderful support stakes for Amaryllis out of wire hangers. Perhaps someone can find it and provide the link. (I don't know how to do that hyperlink thingie). I will search for the thread, though. He cut the hanger with wire cutters, then at the top bent the hanger to form a sort of long oval shaped loop with a little part bent to hook back over the main support (I hope that might make a little sense and that, even better,someone may have saved the link.)
I am looking for my 1st bloom in a few days . The stalk just began to lean terribly this morning. Fortunately I had some of the garden supports to use. Just bend a hanger (using plyers) to a similar shape.

LOL..... most of my stress if JOB related but the holidays and activities only add to it! ^_^ I have actually been really proud of myself because I started Christmas shopping WAY early, got my tree up early.....but no candy made yet and I have a Christmas party for my job tonight, a pole vault meet with my son tomorrow, and my family coming to my house on Sunday for our Christmas gathering.... Not sure what they will be eating but it looks like they may not have any homemade candy! LOL .... oh well, it isn't like any of us NEED it......

I will just be on the lookout for them come Spring.... and be sure to snatch some up when I see them.
Genna

This message was edited Dec 19, 2008 2:39 PM

Birdie - we cross posted, but I had wondered about modifying a wire hanger.....esp if I could locate a green one. Not sure they are as thick or strong, but would probably work just the same. Thanks!
Genna

Birdie, do you remember what thread/forum he posted the instructions in? I wouldn't mind looking for it if you know where I should look.

Genna, Ask your family to make it a potluck where everyone brings a couple of dishes. Depending on how big a family you have. You furnish the main thing, like the turkey.

Jeanette

Jnette -- it was somewhere here on the Amaryllis forum...about 3 weeks ago

Birdie, there were two symbols (flat s) at the end of the link, that's why it wasn't working, but otherwise you did it well!
I put it here too. Thanks for finding it for all of us.

http://www.terraceiafarms.com/Amaryllis_Staking.htm

I am most curious regarding the instructions to insert the stake into the leaf side of the bulb close to the "nose". As this is a company selling these bulbs, I find it hard to believe that they would suggest/ instruct this if they had not tried it with secure and repeated success. Any thoughts??

Yes Birdie, I am hesitant to do that too. I might try it on one of the Moonlights.

Jeanette

I wouldn't spear/poke through any bulb voluntarily...

Here are two of the Moonlights blooming.

Well~~~ Here's a suggestion from the garden column in todays local paper to reduce the rapid tall growth of those flower stalks of amaryllis:
"Another trick is" after the bulbs planted in pebbles with water "have grown several inches high, replace the water with a solution of one part rum, gin, or tequila diluted with seven parts water. The alcohol will dwarf the growth of the bulb by 30 percent to 50 percent but will not affect the flowering. This trick does not work with bulbs planted in soil, though."
I REALLY look forward to some thoughts on this!!
Sheri

(edited for spelling)

This message was edited Dec 20, 2008 2:10 PM

I heard about stunting the growth of daffodils (forced) with an alcohol solution. But I don't grow any out of the soil, so I cannot help.

Goofy~~ I don't get your point.... This states for use with water forced bulbs ONLY.

yes, I understand that. I was saying that I heard about this method being used with the daffodils (also forced). I never tried it, as I always plant my bulbs in soil, so I have no first-hand experience on that.

sip the alcohol yourself and the tall stalks won't bother you
so much. :-0

Oh, I see now, Goofy.
This is my first year with Amaryllis (well, planting the bare bulbs from scratch). I have done about 6 in the pebble and water method. I have a total of 18 or so. It seems that the water / pebble method would be a more temporary life environment and that planting in soil would be the best method if one wants to enjoy the bulbs in years to come.
I'm trying to decide what to do with the rest. Of the ones I have planted, only one is really performing. A Papillo, that has sprung up to over a foot tall and looks to bloom any day. The rest have done nothing, cept for one that is slowly growing (about 2-3" now). Should I add some dilute food to their water??
Experience please......

I would think that giving them some food in that water would do them good, but as you said, diluted. You don't want to burn the roots. It would be great for them (and for you for latter enjoyment) to move them to soil sometimes after the holidays, if you want to keep them for other years.

I escaped the staking by placing the tall ones close to the window, so if they wanted, they could lean on it. I remembered to rotate the pot from time to time, so they don't lean too much on one side. The 2 ft tall ones were sturdy enough not to break. Giving them good light while growing also helps in getting a sturdier stalk.

Tammy, I like your idea... I administer myself some wine occasionally, goes better with company, and I use it for cooking. But when it comes to plants, I'm selfish. I share my coffee every now and then with my gardenia though.

Cat#####, are you still with us?
I was looking to see if any sales for Amaryllis, and I was wondering if you would consider J. Scheepers/Van Engelen for a future coop? They have a good assortment, and probably a coop would lead us to the good prices. http://www.vanengelen.com/catview.cgi?_fn=Category&_category=Amaryllis . V.E. is the "wholesale" branch and the prices are nice, but the min quantity per cultivar is 3...

On another note, maybe please, start a new thread for chatting? This one reached 271 posts, I don't know how it works for dial-uppers.

Hope you're feeling much better! hugs,
Alexandra

I prefer Tammy's method of the alcohol much better myself. Actually, the wire hanger turned out pretty nice that they did. But, I think the loop they made was long enough that it wouldn't have had to be poked thru the bulb except maybe for stability.

Maybe if they were not planning on keeping the bulb for the future they could do that.

The instructions I read on the different sites said that the bulbs should not be given any fertilizer until they had started producing the green either flowers or straps. I don't know if you were talking about the ones you planted in soil or had in water Biridie.

Jeanette

I don't know how to do the hyperlink thingie that continues us to a anew thread, but that is a great idea for whoever out there to do that knows how.. ;-)

I agree with Tammy!

I don't remember how to start a new thread either. It has been so long since I have done it. Can one of you do it? And then would you tell me how to have it come up on my favorites or "watched", so I don't have to keep going back and back to find it. Would really appreciate it.

What did you say about 30 something Goofybulb??? Silly, I could ask my daughter so you wouldn't know.

Jeanette

I'll start one. Hope Cathy doesn't mind. Just gimme a second.

Taking seconds is 40s Goofy. LOL

Jeanette