Nice score! Even if they're distressed, they should recover well enough to bloom again by next year (assuming you'll be growing them outside).

I would peel off the papery coverings on the bulbs and look for anything funky (mushy spots, red blotch, etc.). If you have funky looking stuff, post photos here and folks can give you advice as to how to proceed. The ones that look healthy can either be soaked and potted up or just potted up directly into a damp, well draining soil mix. I like coco coir, perlite and rice hulls... but there are almost as many growing mixes as there are amaryllis growers on this forum! Don't overwater them! You need to give them a bit of time to establish roots before watering much.

Good luck! Post photos of your project... it would be fun to see the outcome!

Tina

Nice! That's a great windfall. I'm sure most of them will grow just fine.

I personally wouldn't soak them, since they seem most sensitive to overwatering. All you experts out there - when should you soak a bulb, if ever?

I always soak dried out bulbs before planting in the yard. I pack them tightly into a flat tupperware so that they all stay roots down, neck up, and can't slide, flip or turn. Then I fill with about an inch of warm water (not hot) and let sit for a few hours. That's about an inch - I DON'T fill the tupperware. The warm water wakes them up since they are soooo dehydrated. Then I plant out in the yard. I am in Zone 9a, Jacksonville, Florida where all of my bulbs are grown in the ground, year-round.

Congrats on your big bag of trash, have fun and good luck!

Carol

Tina,
Please be careful with these. I don't know how seriously you are about expanding your collection or if you are worried about "virus", but many of the bulbs that we bought at the big box stores (HD/L/etc) showed up with virus once the leaves appeared and the weather warmed. If you can live with virused bulbs (as many are doing), then by all means enjoy your haul!!!

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but just warning you. If you have special "prized" bulbs, keep these separated from them!

GOOD LUCK!!!
Kristi

I wasn't the original poster, but your message is a good one Kristi. I learned my lesson about the importance of placing new plants in "quarantine" a few years ago. I had an extensive orchid collection and I placed a newly acquired orchid in among my collection... I ended up with a nasty, infestation of scale that I still haven't been entirely successful at eradicating. Unfortunately I've lost about 3/4 of my collection since then (due to scale, viruses and "mystery deaths").

Tina

here are a few of free blooms
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Thanks for posting follow up photos! Very pretty!