Of all the plants in the garden, bulbs express the gloriousness of summer best.
This week we focus on the Amaryllis, which is not the bulbous plant indigenous to the Western Cape.
The huge oversized trumpet shaped blooms of the Hippeastrum formerly known as Amaryllis hail from central and South America. They are most commonly associated with the Christmas season around the world. Their other common name is the Christmas flower.
Just as you are probably baking your Christmas cake this month thoughts also turn to the table centre piece or festive floral decoration which could be the Hippeastrum (commonly referred to as the Amaryllis).
They can be planted from now until January taking six to eight weeks to flower once the bulbs are planted.
If you are planning to have the Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) in flower on Christmas day, buy them now to plant around November 10.
You can manipulate them into flowering around December 25 by storing them in a paper bag in the refrigerator then planting them later on that date. Being kept cold makes them believe it is still winter and they react by remaining dormant.
Do take care you don’t forget about the bulbs in the fridge. Check on them every now and then to see if they haven’t started to shoot. If so, plant them out immediately. (Bulbs are affected by temperature causing them to grow or sleep.)
Though red is the traditional festive season colour, they come in shades of pink, magenta, salmon, orange and a red and white combination. Some may be striped or have edges of a contrasting colour.
They grow to a height of 40cm producing their huge blooms, measuring 20cm across, which face outward on thick sturdy stems. Each flower lasts about three weeks with blooms following one another providing a spectacle of colour for months.
They are examples of true bulbs, which means they consist of modified leaves which form fleshy scales acting as the plant’s food storage organs.
Though they are traditionally grown in pots, they are showstoppers in the garden especially if you have a number of them growing together in a group.
Position. Hippeastrum are among the easiest plants to grow in the garden. Choose a position in the sun or semi shade. In the semi shade the stems will grow longer but deep shade will cause them to produce long straggly leaves and generally not perform well.
Soil. Hippeastrum prefer well-draining soil however they are tolerant of light sandy soil and loam.
Planting. Loosen the soil to 30cm. Dig a hole. Hang the roots into the hole working the soil around the roots and in so doing remove any air pockets which could form around them. The neck of the bulb should be above the soil.
Watering. Water directly after planting then wait 10 days before watering them again. This allows time for the roots to stabilise. Then water every three to four days. If the bulb is in a pot ensure the roots are constantly moist but not wet.
The saucer beneath the pot should be emptied 30 minutes after watering.
Growing in a pot. The pot should be fairly small just larger than the bulb itself as it prefers fairly cramped growing conditions. Add a layer of stones to the bottom of the pot before filling it with potting soil.
Place the bulb in the centre of the pot. The neck should be just above the soil.
Growing on water. Amaryllis bulbs can also be grown on water instead of soil. Place them on pebbles in a glass container. Fill the container with water to just below the bulb to encourage the roots to grow into the water.(Unfortunately, bulbs grown in this way should be discarded after their flowers are spent.)
After the plant has finished flowering allow the leaves to continue growing during summer. This serves to nourish the bulb. Continue to water into April. Holding off on watering will allow the leaves to die off. As the weather cools in May the bulb will enter its dormancy period. The bulbs may be left in the garden or the pot.
When the leaves are brown, cut them off. The bulb will now rest until its next flowering season. Or you could lift the bulb to store it in a paper bag in a cool dry place. The bulb will inform you that it is ready to grow again by producing a leaf. Clean the bulb of old dry foliage and if not in a pot, plant it out again in soil.
Amaryllis may be grown indoors provided they get good bright light. Water them sparingly to prevent root rot.
Propagation
Offsets. Hippeastrum grow readily from offsets which may be just one or two per bulb. They appear alongside the larger parent bulb. Carefully remove them at the end of the growing season and plant them in their own pots. They will grow for a few years before producing flowers.
Cuttage. Prepare the mature bulb by cleaning it. You will need a sterilised knife to make four pie like cuts into the bulb halfway into the basal plate (the bottom part where the roots grow). Press clean plastic material into the cuts to keep them separated then plant the bulb with the basal plate section facing downwards in vermiculite which has been moistened. Place the pot in a warm location. Keep the vermiculite slightly moist to encourage the bulbette formation. You can create a greenhouse environment by covering the pot with a plastic bag or dome cut from a cooldrink bottle. Small bulbettes will form in about four to eight weeks. Once they have produced one or two leaves you can transplant them.
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