Amaryllis bulbs

[Paul Mc]

This is for all you amaryllis growers out there. Do bulbs eventually get so old that they won't bloom again? I've got one bulb in a pot with 4 babies and two of the babies are in bloom, 2 of the younger ones are not along with the original bulb. Or could it be a sign that the pot is too small and I need to get a slightly larger pot? They are really crammed in the pot I have.


Paul McMahon
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[Daethen]

Wish I knew. I have had one for 2 years now. No blooms but 2 new babies. I just removed them and potted them separately last night. Thought they may have been sucking too much energy from the momma.

[RosieC]

I've had mine around 10 years, maybe more (it was a good size/blooming size when I got it so not a new bulb then) and this year it has two spikes, and the baby on the side (nearly as big as the parent so not such a baby has one spike). I don't think they can get too old to bloom but they might.

I would guess if it's very cramped it might be that, also have you repotted each year. I was advised to remove about half the old media and add new each year, that helps keep nutrients in the media. It hasn't grown well in years I've not done that. I also keep plenty of space around all the bulbs (the two large ones and a third baby) so they have plenty of room.

Generally the number of flowers you get each year relates to how well it grew the year before. I was once told you need four leaves the year before to get a spike and more leaves means more flowers or even more spikes.

When I was reading about them a few years ago I read some people like to take off the babies so the don't take energy from the parent, but others think that's not necessary. I tend to think if there is enough room and enough nutrients for them all in the pot then they can all do well.

[Paul Mc]

Thanks Rosie! When do you repot yours?


Paul McMahon
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[NYCorchidman]

Short answer is no.
The only time these bulbs die is when they get sick from diseases. They basically just rot, which is not common at all under good culture.

Amaryllis bulbs can get quite large depending on the variety and the care given to them.
With time, they multiply by adding bulblets on the side of the mother bulb, or mother bulb split into two or more every so often.

Rosie- whoever said baby bulbs suck energy out of the mother bulb and must be removed is just ignorant.
The whole point of adding babies to multiply, not to kill or harm itself. lol Funny! Removing baby bulbs is just an option. Say, you want to maintain just one bulb per pot or pot is getting too small and you'd rather cut some off to leave only so many per pot.
My aunt never ever removed any baby bulbs but just kept on repotting the whole crowd into larger and larger pot.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Rosie- whoever said baby bulbs suck energy out of the mother bulb and must be removed is just ignorant.
The whole point of adding babies to multiply, not to kill or harm itself. lol Funny! Removing baby bulbs is just an option. Say, you want to maintain just one bulb per pot or pot is getting too small and you'd rather cut some off to leave only so many per pot.
My aunt never ever removed any baby bulbs but just kept on repotting the whole crowd into larger and larger pot.

Yeah, I came to that conclusion, that's why mine has two big bulbs and one small. The only time I can see it causing a problem is if they are all in too small a pot and competing for resources. The OP did say they were crammed in

[Leafmite]

I just plant the bulbs outside in the ground, in a sunny spot, separating the babies from the large ones, and the mature ones usually bloom in the early summer every year. I dig them out in the autumn, remove the dirt and toss them into a bag and shove them in a corner until it is warm enough to plant them out once more.
I started with one, long ago, gave some away every year after a while, and, a few years ago, had about twenty-five or thirty mature bulbs (they made a very nice show) but I gave all but one away...so, I am starting over again.

[estación seca]

"Amaryllis" are mostly hybrids in genus Hippeastrum. Past the first forced bloom after you buy the bare bulb, they don't grow and bloom well without a big root system. Everything you've read about underpotting is wrong. The bigger the pot the better they grow and the bigger your clump becomes.

They prefer very sandy soil with minimal organic matter and lots of fertilizer during warm weather. Don't plant the bulb deeper than half way. The equator should be above the level of the soil. Too much pressure on the side of the bulb prevents bloom scapes from emerging.

They normally bloom in the spring. You can convince them to bloom at other times by laying the container on its side in bright shade and withholding water for six weeks. Then resume watering. They will bloom in another six weeks.

Most take quite a bit of sun.