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Amaryllis/Hippeastrum

Why won't my Amaryllis bloom?

anna_in_michigan

13 years ago

I received an Amaryllis bulb kit for Christmas that was "guaranteed to bloom in 5 weeks!!" It's been in a pot since January without a single bloom in sight! The leaves are now about 30" long and I had to bind them together with two bread ties and prop them up so they would stop flopping over and splitting in the middle. Any help with this?

A few details:

It sits on the table in front of a window and gets really decent light from the south. It's planted in soil that came with the kit and is in a glazed pot with drainage in the bottom, I water it when the soil is dry.

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Comments (3)

kaboehm (zone 9a, TX USA)
13 years ago
Hi Anna,

Well....welcome to our world!!

I'd say your amaryllis would have been guarantted to bloom in 5 weeks if it had all the optimal conditions, but sitting in a box at room temp for who knows how long wasn't what it needed!! Most of those box kits show up in the stores in October and at that point they have come from the distributor where they have been chilled and just ready to bloom. If they aren't given warmth, water, and a little love within a window of a couple of months...they may say, "Forget it, I'll wait till next year!!". So obviously, your good efforts at Christmastime just arrived too late. BUT...there is good news!!

Put that bulb outside where it can soak up the sun and keep it watered (not soaking) with 1/2 strength Miracle Gro (or a similar water based fertilizer). Those leaves should grow nice and green and STRONG and be able to support themselves! Then...around late August (you are getting a late start!!) stop watering and turn the pot on its side where the rain can't hit the soil. Those nice leaves should yellow up and shrivel. At that point, cut them back to the neck of the bulb and put the bulb in the pot somewhere where the temp will be above freezing for the next 8 weeks. Bring it out...8 weeks later, give it some water and warmth, (and sunlight if possible...although winter dreariness might do) and you may be rewarded with blooms. Since it's had a rough first year, just be patient with it...it might go on its natural cycle and bloom in the spring. As soon as it's warm enough (April/May) put it outside so it can soak up the benefits. You need to build that bulb back up so that it will reward you with blooms!
GOOD LUCK...and be patient!!
Kristi
anna_in_michigan
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for the advice Kristi! I was beginning to think that it just hated me because my girlfriend got the same type of kit with Paperwhite Narcissus and those went crazy! They smelled awful though lol.
I will follow your advice and see how it does. :)
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