Hi, Tammy! Welcome to the Forum!

In your other thread, I provided a link with basic information on how to get your Hippeastrum to re-bloom... bulbs can be forced for specific time frames if you have the proper environments to do the necessary preparation.

Let's start at the beginning... most hippeastrum bulbs are harvested fresh sometime around August, I believe... these would be all the hybrid bulbs grown mainly in Europe, The Netherlands, Holland, etc... the ones that end up on the store shelves or are advertised in catalogs before the Christmas Holidays... these bulbs are cleaned, sorted, and put through a cold storage, or dormancy, and then shipped off to suppliers around the world for sale by retailers. At this time, they've been primed to bloom once potted and watered.

The normal time we all make our purchases is in autumn. We know the bulbs are fresh, and there's less chance of rot or fungi at this point in time. Since the bulbs have all gone through their cold storage, or dormancy, we know that the majority will bloom about 6 to 8 weeks after we pot them up and give them a little moisture so their roots can once again grow.

If you purchase an adult bulb now, pot it up and water it, it should take about 6 to 8 weeks to see scapes/blooms... though I'm not certain who is selling bulbs right now that have just gone through a dormancy. This is the time of year when most bulbs are leafed out and recharging by gathering sunlight and food.

The above encompasses adult bulbs that are being forced to bloom out of season... the natural season for most hippeastrum bulbs is spring flowering, followed by a period of leaf growth when the bulb is recharged through photosynthesis, and then a fall or winter resting period after which the bulb blooms again as the days grow longer in early spring.

I hope something I've said has answered your question... the majority of us die-hard growers purchase adult bulbs in fall, when we know they're fresh and primed.

jodik,

Thanks for the information...this I did not know! I purchase too late always...this year I will begin in th fall.

Kim

Then there's the rest of us... bargain hunters and procrastinators that are ordering sale bulbs in the spring :-) Alana

You might want to buy a bulb now and keep in fridge for a month (as long as they are dry). Plant the bulb in July and hopefully, you will have flowers by August.

I have Hippie flowers all year long as I schedule their planting time for them to bloom on a desired date.

Good Luck!

A scheduled Hippie just opened it's first flower...

Bright Early Summer hybridized by Mr. Komoriya
{{gwi:417182}}

Hiya Maria,

All I can say about 'Bright Early Summer' is ä½ã¦ç´ æµãªè±ï¼

Hugs,

Blanca

Oh, sure! Easy for you to say, Blanca! LOL! It sure is a beauty, though! :-)

Maria, she is gorgeous!!!