Amaryllis are one of the easiest of bulbs to force and is certainly the most elegant and spectacular of the forcing bulbs. Paperwhites pale in comparison to these gigantic flowers native to South Africa and South America. And for our interested botany-gardener types, note that Amaryllis is the common name for the Hippeastrum family. Our commonly potted bloomer is a cross between various selection of H. vittatum and bred back to itself to give us huge blooms for an extended period.
I would be delighted to share more information with you but even research with Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Centre pointed out that at best the genetics and naming of these bulbs is chaotic and at the worst, totally incomprehensible. No matter what you call them, you might find them surviving the winters in zones nine to eleven. You will not find them very frost tolerant. This is an indoor bulb.
Plant in a sterilized potting soil. You can put as many bulbs into a pot as you like as long as you leave an inch or so between bulbs as well as the edge of the pot. I find that immersing the bulbs in tepid water for at least an hour before planting awakens and rehydrates the bulb. Moistening the roots also helps to make them more pliable (they get dried out and brittle in storage) and this helps prevent root damage. Leave approximately one third of the bulb above the soil line and always water with warm water. Grow the bulbs in bright sunlight until the blossoms begin to open. Do note that this plant grows toward the light and you will have to rotate the pot a quarter turn every few days to slow down its leaning.
Doug Green, an award winning garden author, answers your gardening questions at his free gardening newsletter at www.flower-garden-bulbs.com. Article Source: ezinearticles.com.
Hot Tips and Great Places to Purchase These Items or Services...
More Articles & Tips...
Beat the Weeds and Save Time in the Garden
So often new gardeners are put off the idea of gardening by thinking about the time it might take, and the hard work involved. The popular idea of a low-maintenance garden is one of covering the space with decking and gravel, planted with a few grasses and pots of evergreens. However, I have discovered an ideal way to help thwart one of the most time-consuming chores in the garden - that of weeding....
(read more)
How to Grow Japanese Red Maple Trees from Seed
Most Japanese Maple seeds ripen in the fall. Watch the tree and wait for the seeds to turn brown. The seeds are ready to be harvested when they are brown and can be easily removed from the tree. The seeds are attached to a wing, it's best to break the wing off before storing or planting the seeds. Japanese Maple seeds have a very hard outer coating as do many ornamental plants. Under natural conditions the seeds would have to be on the ground for almost two years before they would germinate...
(read more)
Send roses to cities throughout the U.S. and the world:
Copyright 2006-2007 Everything-Roses.com, all rights reserved.
Thank you for visiting www.everything-roses.com, your online source for roses - flowers, rose care, growing roses, sending roses, rose flower gardens, and our favorite town, Glen Rose Texas. Information contained herein is deemed accurate and correct, but no warranty is implied or given.
