Amaryllis- Does Planting Medium Matter?

13 years ago

I have always potted my amaryllis in "potting soil". Today's sales purchase netted me bulbs w/plastic pots w/a disc of 'coir/peat' which appears to be a nutritionless mix.

So i realize this question may require a few different answers but-

*are these bulbs going to be affected(this winter's flowers)by the growing medium now,

or

*does the bulb already have its 'flower future'inside it?(if so, is it possible that what will improve its future beyond this coming bloom season- is moving it outside to summer sun and putting it in the ground or in good nutritious planting mix/potting soil and fertilizing it heavily?)

and, as long as I'm asking. should i be giving it new potting soil each year after i bring it out of dormancy?

you see, all these questions come from my new 12 step program. It's called CRYA, or Commit to Respecting Your Amaryllis.

thanks much,

mindy

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Comments (7)

simcan
13 years ago
Good question and I was wondering the same thing, and for the same reason. I have several Amaryllis that I have had for years, and they bloom at least once a year, often twice. And the bulbs keep growing, and creating offsets that are themselves now blooming and creating offsets. I grow them in potting soil mixed with some compost, and I fertilize lightly after flowering and keep them outside when I can. As it cools I let them dry out and as the leaves wither and dry I yank them off, and when they are all gone I move to the basement until they start up again. I don't repot every year. I usually wait until I have several viable (i.e., several leaves) offsets and then I dump, split, and repot all the divisions with fresh media. That is usually once every few years.

So that is one way.

But from what I can figure out, when you start up a bulb, it has everything in it you (i.e., it) needs. The issue is not that blooming period, is is that if whether you want another one after that, and after that.... Lots of folks grow these once and toss them, because is not worth it to them to keep them coming back, at $10/piece. That, plus the fact the coir packs up nice and tight and so makes an easy, light and saleable package, seems to be what drives this practice.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
Someone usually gives me a Amaryllis for Christmas and which I usually enjoy the bloom in February. After the blooms are spent I remove the flower stem and plant it in the garden, not in the pot. They will not bloom the same year but usually will the next year about the end of May. If I want it in the house I dig it and force into dormancy in October. Them I can repot around Christmas time. All the energy and the flower is in the bulb, recharged through the summer in good garden soil. I never fertilize them, and all they need in the pot is something for the roots to anchor with such as coir and of course a little moisture. Al
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Ok, so I have recently read a few other posts where growers store dormant Amaryllis bulbs in the fridge. As far as I know, cold treatment is not necessary for Amaryllis? I thought the idea was to simulate drought not cold? Anyway, I have all my bulbs in pots that are about 1 gallon or a little larger. I feed them every time I water with 1/2 the recommend house plant mixture of all purpose Miracle Gro. Put them outside in the summer. Plan to repot them about every 3-4 years...haven't repotted yet, only have had them in larger pots for 2 years now. They are all doing better than ever! In the fall...just before frost, I stop watering and bring them all in and put them in the basement (making sure they are good and dry). This would be about the end of September - first part of October. Mid winter, after the leaves die back naturally, I cut them off and clean them up, leaving them potted. 1st of January I bring them up and drench them good (no fertilizer until the second watering)...making sure all the dry soil really gets hydrated well. Then I put them in a bright warm spot and watch them wake up. I am extremely pleased with how much the performance of my bulbs have done since I have followed this schedule. I have some bulbs that have not bloomed for several years finely blooming again and at least 2 bulbs have 2 flower scapes each (I have 6 bulbs large enough to bloom). I've never had 1 with 2 scapes. I like putting my bulbs to sleep in the fall and bringing them out after Christmas is all over. That is about the time I start thinking about gardening and bringing the bulbs up on Jan 1st gives me a bit of gardening in the winter. I expect my first flowers about the last week of Feb and expect flowers through the end of march...just in time to start some early spring gardening. So there you go, that's how I take care of my bulbs and why I like to force them into dormancy. I'll post some photos of them as they start blooming. dacora: I'd love to see photos of your new Amaryllis! You will probably need to put a stake of some kind in your pot for supporting the plant as it grows. Last year my 'White Christmas' got 37 inches tall! That was ridiculously tall in my opinion and it looks as if it is on its way to a good 3 feet again! Matthew Indiana.Matt
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mnwsgal
13 years ago
A reminder, there is an amaryllis forum. I have been reading it lately and amazed at some of the photos of beautiful amaryllis that are posted.

I'm sure they can answer your questions.

Here is a link that might be useful: amaryllis hippeastrum forum
arbo_retum
Original Author
13 years ago
thanks so much, mgal; i went there and will return now that i know!
calistoga, that's so interesting that you never fert them; they're alw described as 'heavy feeders' but maybe that's when they're in pots....

and simcan, i don't remember seeing you post much before, but you certainly are articulate so i hope you'll post more. as a matter of fact, all you (3?) canadians who post on GW Perennials surely are a knowledgable group. something in the water up there in that little country?

best,
mindy
www.cottonarboretum.com/
simcan
13 years ago
Thanks for the kind words, Mindy. I certainly have taken far more from these forums than I could ever pay back, but it is fun to chip in occasionally and I will continue to do so whenever something is worth adding...
paul_
13 years ago
As others have mentioned, the soil will only really matter if you intend on the growing the bulb on to bloom for another year. I personally have never had any luck getting them to rebloom so I grow them as a disposable plant. Lowes had them -- bulb only -- for $4. At that price its a cheap holiday decoration.

:)
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
I do not wish to mislead anyone when I say I never fertilize Amaryllis in the ground. I never fertilize ANYTHING in the ground. Plants will vary in their response to fertilizer, but if the soil is kept in good condition with adequate amounts of humus continually available to maintain abundant microbial activity there will be plenty of nutrients to feed even the hungriest plants. Al

Amaryllis- Does Planting Medium Matter?

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Amaryllis- Does Planting Medium Matter?

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simcan

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