Cute idea... but the bulbs are too deep in the pot. The recommendation is 1/3 of the bulb showing. For me, I settle the bulb inside the soil only, so most of it is showing.

Ryan

Nice pot, and a cute idea... but I agree with Ryan. I would plant them so at least 2/3 of the bulb body was above soil level. Less chance of rot that way. As they grow taller, simply stake them for support.

Since you're using what looks like a bagged potting mix, be careful of over watering... hippeastrum bulbs prefer to dry out in between waterings. Be sure to check the soil at root level for moisture before adding more water... I use a different medium altogether, so over watering is much less of a problem... but you can insert a wooden shishkabob skewer into the soil to about the center of the soil ball, and just leave it there... then, pull it out to check for moisture... press it against your cheek, and if it feels cool and moist, wait before watering. When it comes out dry, water thoroughly.

Almost every year, I buy bulbs as gifts for my daughters... I buy the boxed kits, but I dump the cheap plastic pots and crappy soil they come with, and I plant the bulbs in unglazed clay pots with my gritty, bonsai-like soil mix. Sometimes, I decorate the pots for the girls. They really enjoy them.

Gosh, I was so smitten by the Christmas pot and the autumn tablecloth...I didn't even notice that the bulbs were drowhing in soil!! But Jodi and Ryan were quick to point out that the bulbs should be much higher! I replanted a few yesterday and planted to just above the basal plate. Kim...I've found that adding some sand and perlite (that white puffy stuff!) will improve the drainage and make your bulb's roots much happier.

I do have several pots with at least 3 bulbs each: Benfica (by far the showiest), Red Lion, Walmart garden hippis, Candy Cane, and the mystery bulbs from Smith and Hawkins.

{{gwi:376551}}

It's a rainy day here....yeah!
K

Like Jodi said, they like to be dry between waterings--- like a succulent! And as Kristi mentioned, adding perlite is a good idea. Not sure why, but the pots I plant with 50-75% perlite and the rest a mix of bark and peat soil grow like weeds. Its got to be the abundance of air in the soil yet the perlite releases a good amount of humidity for the roots.

I like when my bulbs grow like weeds.

Does anyone else just "nestle" bulbs atop their soil like me?

My poor bulbs just get planted in whatever is around, then after blooming off to the garden! Then it's rain, drought, hurricanes.... our "soil" is really an alkaline sand, you can build a sandcastle in the backyard, and they love it. I bury them a little deeper outside. Even if I don't in a couple of years they seem to have buried themselves. Then they just bloom when they want. There are a couple of big pots of Walmart garden amaryllis that never got in the ground, the house burning up distracted me, but they seem happy.
Tally HO!

Maybe its just my preference... but I love the look of the bulb on the soil... not IN the soil. These things, even without flowering, are a work of art.

Ryan

I appreciate the comments! I just wanted to share a nice picture. The bulbs are fine and there is perlite mixed underneath with the same soil I always use and have had great success! If you have seen any of the pictures of my hippies from the yard or the aussies I think you'll see they are growing very well! Thanks again for the advice though!

Kim

I certainly didn't mean to step on your toes, Kim... I just know how disappointing it is to have great blooms, and then rot problems from soggy soil or other issues... especially when you paid good money for the bulbs, and you really like them.

Since we all live in different climates, what works for one person may not work for someone else.

I, too, have found that hippeastrums actually resemble succulents when it comes to their culture. In fact, they almost thrive on partial neglect!

Happy Gardening!

Thanks Jodik. I guess my point is that I simply wanted to share a creative way to prepare for the Holidays. I am huge about the Holidays (even though I might as well be decorating palm trees).

I do notice that sometimes advice is unsolicited and it is a little annoying when that wasn't the intent. I certainly respect everyone's advice and when I want to know about something on any forum here I really trust what is offered.

And you are correct, everyone's climate is different. Today is 100 degrees here in West Central Florida. I wish I was already up north!

IMO I just think sometimes we are too anxious with our advice to really get what the poster might be trying to convey. I have found myself reacting the same way and I hope I have also not been offensive to anyone. I am more careful now to really try to understand the post before making a reply.

Thanks for your words...they are appreciated!

Kim

@ ladyaustin: wow, those are nice ones you have there. They are african amaryllisses from Hadeco if i'm not mistaken? Veel plezier ermee! (dutch for: wish you a lot of fun with it / may you enjoy it!
I love how you decorated the pot. Uhmmm, i'm getting inspiration from your Xmas decoration. Thanks for posting the pic!

@ Jodik: I'm really doing well at resisting the urge :-) to water my hippies. I can see they really like to get less water. I'm experimenting on planting them more than 2/3 above the surface, instead of just 1/3 above, as they usually advice on planting instructions. I'm also busy with adding perlite and bark to my soil mixes. Finally got my hands on perlite. I found it online. At the garden center they looked at me like i was crazy when i asked for it! It was really annoying..... I'm ordering coir and seramis as well and will soon begin with experimenting on the right mix for dutch weather, where it can easily receive up to 25 to 30 inches of rain. A soil mix with darn good draining properties is really needed over here, xoxoxo.....

@ Kristi: I love the pic you posted. This is Benfica, isn't it? I ordered it last week. I've erad is even darken dan Royal Velvet. I'm curious :-). Gorgeous to see how the blueish shine got catched on photo. It is so difficult to get that on a picture! I think pictures don't always do justice to the satiny or velvety shine of most hippies, and their drop dead colours.... Yours really does :-)!

I'm honestly convinced that the instructions, pot, and soil that make up the cheap kits we get with our bulbs are actually designed so we fail. Because if we fail, chances are good we'll buy another one for the next Holiday season. It's the retail way.

Kim, for what it's worth... I really think that while advice might not be solicited, we tend to give it out of generosity and kindness... we truly want everyone to be successful, and we'd rather share advice now, preemptive, than have someone come back in two months, totally disappointed, and ask why their bulb rotted, or ask for help saving it... not that we wouldn't help then, but preventative medicine is the best. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...

There have been so many people disappointed with their results... it's just become habit for us to jump right in and mention something if we see a potential problem. I'm terribly sorry that it seemed otherwise...