Cutting Back Foliage??

16 years ago

I live in San Antonio, where we grow varieties of hardy amaryllis. (Not sure if it's Johnsonii, or another variety. This local variety here have large glossy strappy leaves. I saw Johnsonii at the nursery and it had smaller, thinner leaves)

They tend to be evergreen.

I was walking around the neighborhood and admired someone's plants. She told me that she cuts back the foliage to "make them better".

I wanted to ask her more about this, but she didn't speak English.

I'm sure she is from Mexico where these plants are also very popular and they probably have cultural practices for amaryllis.

However, I have no idea what she was talking about, such as when she cuts them back?...what she was trying to accomplish?(Increased flowering? Flowering at different times? Increasing the bulb size? )

We've had a lot of rain and lots of snails damaging our plants this summer. The snails have defoliated a few of my plants, but they seem to grow back even stronger.

Anyone have any information about cutting back foliage?

I did a google search and couldn't find any info.

Thank you.

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Comments (7)

soultan
16 years ago
I believe cutting back the foliage for outplanted bulbs have no meaning. It does not help the bulb or the flowering.
When your bulb is planted out and has the outside environment surrounding it, it will grow you harder, even super hard leaves. I experienced it with my bulbs. So it will be different from the ones kept in pots.
If you want to cut back on your amaryllis, you should probably just clean up the distorted, ugly leaves. I wouldn't touch it if it is evergreen. It knows when to bring bloom and it takes care of itself with plenty of hard and healthy foliage. I'd be happy to have the foliage as long as possible.
pricklypearsatx
Original Author
16 years ago
The foliage of these plants are my favorite part!! They bloom for only a short while, but the foliage year round is the bonus.

The foliage does look ratty on some of them. I wonder if they're getting too much sun?

They only get a few hours of direct sun in the day, but it happens to be in the afternoon.

How much sun can amaryllis tolerate? (I had thought of planting a rose in this same location, but realized that it would probably get too hot for the rose)

Moving them to a shadier spot is no problem.
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you can not beat back the genetics of plant growth.. in hopes of making a smaller plant of it ... i am of the opinion.. that given a halfway decent soil .. and note i am on glacial beach sand ... that no plant EVER needs feeding ... they can fend for themselves very well.. thank you ... and i think you are starting to understand that.. with your insight into what hyperfertilizing MIGHT be doing to your plant ... just keep in mind.. they are not children.. that need to be fed.. clothed.. sent to school ... they are plants .. and all they really need is water .. and they can do most of the rest thru photosynthesis ... either move it.. where it has the space it needs... or simply get rid of it... life is simply too short.. to get a hate on for some plant that is not cooperating with your master plan ... find some friend who will take it.. and be done with it ... ken ps: i learned thru experimenting... cut half the plant back.. leave the other half.. and report back to us.. how the experiment works out ... or divide it.. stressing the heck out of it.. and see how it responds ... etc ... there really no true path.. when you have the shovel and the pruners.. lol ...
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it is useless.. unless you solve the slug issue first.. whats your plan in that regard .... we are coming into root growing season.. every leaf.. pretty or not.. is a factory to produce food.. which will be stored in the new roots .. and that is the food that will power them out of the ground next spring ... if you interfere SIGNIFICANTLY with this.. and they waste the power reflushing .. instead of storing .. then you will have smaller hosta next year ... this is no different than if a hail storm did the damage ... ergo... sooooooo .... i guess i wouldnt do it... but i wouldnt hesitate to take one or two of the worst leaves off.. and see if that doesnt help 'the look' .... all hosta will reflush later in the season.. so you might want to wait until they do it naturally .. and then take a few of the uglies off ... so whats the slug plan??? and you will sterilize your clippers and hands in between plants.. if virus is an issue in your garden .... ken
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jodik_gw
16 years ago
Since roses require at least 6 to 8 hours of sun a day, I would think about trying a rose... as long as you feed it regularly and water it often, it should do fine. Roses tend to be heavy feeders and are very thirsty plants, but with a good layer of mulch to help keep in a bit of moisture, maybe a rose could tolerate the heat. Especially a rose designed for the south.

I can only grow amaryllis indoors, unless I dig them every fall, so I'm not sure about the amount of sun they can handle...

I do have 2 roses in full sun, most all day, and they are doing great!
elizabeth_jb
16 years ago
PricklyPear,

I lived in San Antonio for awhile, and I adore that city!

My experience is that Amaryllis do better with partial day sun, especially if they are protected from the hottest sun of the day. If you can find a place to give them filtered sunlight (under a not too dense tree), they will flourish! They do best here in raised beds due to our 'normal' excessive rainfalls.

When it is hot, like it gets in San Antonio, they will appreciate additional drinks of water.

Hope that helps...
cindeea
16 years ago
Pear-I grow most of my Amaryllis under the pool cage in pots. We have "no-see-um" screen above that blocks 60% UV ray so they can handle being out there all summer in direct sun without burning. Both my amaryllis and my orchids can live around the pool happily.
jodik_gw
16 years ago
So... it sounds like maybe roses could take the full sun, while amaryllis would benefit from a bit of noon-time shade...
soultan
16 years ago
My bulbs are in a raised bed under a Californian Willow and a Jacaranda tree on the other side. They get quite a lot direct HOT sunlight, but they are also under shade in differend parts of the day. They are doing fine. They are actually growing each other out... I will have to consider planting them next time in larger than 6 inches apart...
They also get 5 minutes of drip watering ever night around 2-3 A.M.

Cutting Back Foliage??

Comments (7)

soultan

pricklypearsatx
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Cutting Back Foliage??

Comments (7)

soultan

pricklypearsatxOriginal Author

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