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| For the first time, I've been able to bring my amaryllis (about 8 of them) through the summer without having them get chomped down by the lubbers --these are grasshoppers that you may not know if you don't live in this part of Georgia, but believe me, they are legendary around here!
The leaves are strappy and glossy and gorgeous, but it's now nearly October and I need to bring things inside. Should I stop watering now and cut the leaves back? or put them by a sunny window, water lightly and wait for the foliage to wither and die? Or something else? Last year I let them sit dormant in a dark closet for 2 months and they bloomed beautifully in the spring--but all the leaves had died back or been eaten by this time. I don't quite know what to do in the face of all this healthy foliage. Thanks so much for your advice! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Sort of up to you how you want to manage them. Lots of people don't believe in cutting back the leaves, lots of people do. There are just about as many methods as there are listers!! You can turn the pots on their sides at this point so that you won't accidently water them or so that the rain won't get them and let the leaves die back on their own. I live just north of Houston and I leave the plants out until frost is in the forcast and then like a crazy person I go out with knife and alcohol and cut each bulb down (1st cut) about 8" above the neck, leaving lots of leave, but makes moving 300+ pots into the green house manageable. THEN, when those have died back, I cut the bulb cleanly across the neck and dust with captan powder. They sit in the GH during the winter and rebloom again in the late winter/early spring. If you continue to water, you'll be growing them as evergreens and they won't die back because they won't get the signal to go dormant. I water my seedlings throughout the winter and they stay lush and full. Mature bloom-sized bulbs get put into the dormant state. Good luck whatever you choose to do. There is no wrong way! |
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- Posted by derannweaver 7 GA (My Page) on Sun, Sep 23, 12 at 17:49
| Thanks, Kaboehm! I'm envious of that lovely greenhouse ! I think I'll try your method and see where I end up with my bulbs next spring. |
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| The greenhouse is a little pop up called a flower house. It routinely sells for about $199. You can usually get the shipping for free. The one in the photo is 6' x 6' and has lasted three or four years before it got some sunrot. I didn't take it down between seasons and the Houston heat and sun can be brutal. I've currently got an 8' x 8' that has yet to be set up but I'm very excited that it offers almost twice as much room! Aside from the self-cleaning litter box for my cat that greenhouse has been one of the best purchases I've ever made!! |
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- Posted by amaryllisstudygroup 8b/9aFL (amstgrp@yahoo.com) on Tue, Sep 25, 12 at 1:36
| You may want to try several techniques since you have 8 bulbs and keep using the ones you like.. For instance 2 bulbs could be planted in a sandy area in your garden with the top fourth of the bulb above the soil. Although the the bulbs would be exposed to cold frosts if left outdoor in pots, they are well protected planted in the ground. Even a very bad freeze would only kill the leaves this winter without affecting the the bulb, next years leaves which sprout immediately after or sometimes along with spring bloom which is also not affected by a bad freeze except a delay in bloomtime due to later warmingof soil temperature. You could take another 2 bulbs out of the pot rinse the roots and replant them in their pots in 5 days. Unless they are cybister hybrids they will bloom in 39 days after you replant them. You must keep them inside in front of a window where the temp does not go below 60F and 70F is better. You should water the pots every 3 weeks as you would the others in pots where you do not let the pots dry outfor fall and winter. Another 2 bulbs cold be left in their pots and turned on their sides as suggested in a dark and cool room. In the week of Thanksgiving, turn the pot upright and water every 3 weeks and most varieties will bloom Christmas week. (This is the classic form for forcing.) Do not worry if you missed the bloom in one of these techniques. It just means that they will wait for spring to bloom. Bill |
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