Contributed by Jolene Ottosen for the Chaparral Green Thumbs
One of my favourite gifts to both give and receive this time of year are amaryllis bulbs. Even those with a brown thumb can produce lovely, showy blossoms with minimal effort from this bulb. My only issue with them is that many people assume they are single-season bulbs and throw them out once the blooms are spent. The reality is that these bulbs can be kept and with just a little tending, can produce flowers over multiple seasons, potentially even increasing the number of blooms over time.
Amaryllis bulbs can be kept and bloom again the following year if you follow a few simple steps. First, cut off the stems once the blooms are spent but leave the leaves and continue to water and fertilize. Over spring and summer, the plant will grow tall leaves, which help it store energy in the bulb. Some people will leave it in a pot, while others will transplant it outdoors. If new leaves form, this is something to get excited about as more leaves equals more blooms.
In August stop watering, let the foliage naturally die off and allow the bulb to dry out completely. If the plant was transplanted outdoors, you will need to repot it for this stage and should take it out of the sunlight. Store the dormant bulb in a cool dark place for at least eight weeks then pot in new soil for five to eight weeks before you want it to bloom again. Unlike some other bulbs, the amaryllis does not need a cooling period, it simply needs time to store energy in the bulb, followed by a dormant period.
Once you are ready, the bulbs only need to be loosely planted with the pointed end up in some potting soil, with about a third of the bulb showing above the soil. Ensure that the pot allows for drainage, as these plants do not like to sit in water. A support stake might be needed later on as these blooms are tall and can be heavy depending on how thick the stem grows.
Once planted the pots should be placed in a bright location and watered sparingly until you see about two inches of growth. At this time, you should begin watering more generously, about once or twice a week and turning periodically to help the stems grow straight. Blooms should develop within five to eight weeks and will last the longest if kept out of direct sunlight.
Once the blooms are spent, the process can begin again.
Poinsettias
If you decide to keep your poinsettia for next year, be prepared to move it to a darker location with lower light and to start letting it get a little dryer. In the spring, you can bring it back to a brighter location, trim it down to about six inches, and water it well over the summer. In September or October, you need to be careful about the light. Poinsettias will only bloom if they have at least twelve hours of complete darkness each night, which might require covering or moving daily, preferably maintaining a cooler environment at night as well.
If you are interested in more information or curious about upcoming events, check us out at http://www.chapgreenthumbs.ca/ or email us at [email protected].
Click here to the Chaparral Community News home page for the latest Chaparral community updates.
