Hippeastrum blooms while I wait for orchid blooms.

[camille1585]

I don't have very many non orchid house plants and in December I bought a nice fat bulb of Hippeastrum Ambiance. It produced 2 spikes (or whatever you call them on these plants) and just finished blooming.

I thought I'd post photos of it while I try to patiently wait for the orchids to start blooming this year (have over 20 Phals in spike/bud now, so it should be quite a show)



As an aside, what is the proper care for these to get them to thrive, grow bigger, and bloom again? I haven't had one for many years, and never managed rebloom them before.

[estación seca]

I grow them but I'm not an expert. I was sure something must be available on the Web by an expert. I normally send people interested in bulbs to the Pacific Bulb Society. In this case their extensive Web page covers growing many Hippeastrum species, but doesn't have an article on the hybrids. From the home page look at the page Photographs, and you will find hundreds of genera of geophytes with many thousands of photos.

Fortunately I found an excellent Hippeastrum article written by somebody I know. Susan Mahr, PhD, is now retired from the University of Wisconsin. Here is her article. It is targeted at people living in cold-winter climates who cannot grow them outside year-round.

The chief obstacle is that they won't grow luxuriantly nor flower again until they develop a sturdy roots system. Sound familiar? A lot of forced bulbs have most of their roots trimmed to fit into the package. Members of Amaryllidaceae have very large, white, succulent roots that persist even through months-long dormant dry seasons. When they are removed to fit into a small box the plants are set back. The next set of flowers has already been formed, so it doesn't affect forcing. This is the reason for the advice to water gingerly after flowering is finished. Once they grow roots they like lots of water.

If planted in the ground or in very large pots, most Hippeastrum hybrids offset regularly and soon produce a very impressive show. But not many people want to drag a huge pot in and out of the house with the seasons.

Once in regular growth the hybrids can be brought into flower at any time of the year by letting them go dry, removing the plant with the soil mass from the pot, laying the plant and soil mass on its side in very bright shade, and leaving it for 6 weeks. Then put it back into the pot and resume watering. It will flower 6 weeks later. So, if you desire them flowering for a special occasion, begin 12 weeks before the event. This information is from the online discussion of the now-defunct International Bulb Society. It was posted by a member from Florida, where one can dig up Hippeastrum clumps and leave them in the shade outside at any time of the year.

[camille1585]

Thanks for the information and the links, much appreciated! Now that the blooms have finished I'll move the pot next to the orchid shelves so they'll get a bit of spill over light from the LEDs until it's spring comes and the sun starts shining (its been an unbelieveable gray and dull winter).

I also have an Ismene festalis that I was gifted last spring, so I hope I'll be able to keep that one alive too! I brought the dormant pot inside for the winter, and obviously kept it too warm as it's already sprouting...

[claypot]

I grow these too and get so sad to see people just throw them out after flowering. I have plants I have kept growing for nearly 10 years. After flowering allow the leaves to grow and mature with plenty of light. Towards the end of August here in the UK the plants tell me they want to go to sleep so I cut foliage, dry off the compost, unpot, and store in a dark cool place. Then early in January I pot up and they flower within 2/3 weeks usually with two spikes each with 3 or maybe 4 flowers.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by claypot

I grow these too and get so sad to see people just throw them out after flowering. I have plants I have kept growing for nearly 10 years. After flowering allow the leaves to grow and mature with plenty of light. Towards the end of August here in the UK the plants tell me they want to go to sleep so I cut foliage, dry off the compost, unpot, and store in a dark cool place. Then early in January I pot up and they flower within 2/3 weeks usually with two spikes each with 3 or maybe 4 flowers.

Thanks, it's really helpful to know how people with a similar climate grow these plants!

I agree, it's sad that they get tossed after blooming. Like with mass produced orchids people probably find reblooming too long and difficult of a process.