Author : Briscoe White
Amaryllis are great plants – they are easy to grow and have large, beautiful flowers in wonderful colors that brighten any indoor spot! They come in lovely shades of red, white, pink, salmon, orange and multicolored varieities. They have extended blooming seasons; flowering can last up to 8 weeks! All they need is a little warmth, regular watering and a little light! A great gift as well. Choose your pot: Make sure that the pot is "not too big, and not too small". Try to have at least 1" around the sides, as an Amaryllis likes to be snug. Use a good potting mixture and plant so that the top inch of the bulb is sticking out of the pot.Water sparingly at first: You want to make sure that you don't rot the bulb as it begins its growth. Once the stem has emerged you may water regularly, but make sure that it is never overwatered.Give it some sun: Once planted, place the bulb in a cool, bright location. A sunny window is great. Your amaryllis will grow quickly. Generally, the temperature should not exceed 65 degrees during the day and usually hover around 55 degrees at night. If you want to speed things up, give the pot a little warmth by placing on a radiator for bottom heatBlooms will appear in 6-10 weeks: Depending on the variety, you should see blooms within that timeframe. A second stalk will appear just after the first. As the spectacular blooms emerge, keep turning the pot to make the stalk grow straight. They have a tendency to grow towards the light. Once the flower appears, take it out of direct sunlight. And, water only when the soil is dry to the touch. Fertilize with a diluted mixture once a month.During and after flowering, water only when the soil is dry to the touch. Feed lightly with very diluted fertilizer once a month. Continue to feed all through the spring until mid summer. Blooms should last about two weeks, and will last longer if the plant is taken out of direct sunlight once it begins to flower.After flowering: Do not toss out your amaryllis. The bulb will rebloom year after year with just a little "aftercare". After blooming, cut the flower stalks to within 2" of the bulb and leave the foliage. Continue to water and fertilize regularly throughout the summer – allowing the leaves to fully develop and grow. Once the nighttime temperatures are above 50 degrees, place the pot in a partially shaded location where it gets only morning sun. In mid-September, bring the pot inside. Reduce watering to about ½ of what you had been doing, and leave the pot in a dark, dry spot. When the foliage turns yellow, trim to about ¾" from the bulb and the fun begins, again!In 1985, Briscoe White opened The Growers Exchange in an abandoned Texaco station on a busy urban street corner in Richmond, Virginia. The facility has grown over the years, and is now 5 distinct growing environments with 5 acres under cover. Briscoe has over 25 years of gardening experience. For further information on gardening products or gardening tips please contact Briscoe White at bwhite@thegrowersexchange.com.
Category : Home-and-Family:Landscaping-Gardening
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