Try giving it a little bit longer. Some varieties take some time before they fully "color up". =) It looks purrrty though. =)

It is San Remo. Be patient my dear. It will unfold it's beauty right in your eyes in a day or two. I can almost see the freckles in the last pic.

You guys are right. I was back on the patio finishing up my planting, and as it is unfolding more it definitely is PINK with beautiful freckles!!

About freckles. One kid at my Catholic Grade School(many Moons ago) was always getting teased by the other kids about his freckle face. I never teased him but befriended him. My older 1/2 brother was a strawberry blonde with tons of freckles. I used to want my own freckles. One day the poor kid was crying on the playground and I went to sit by him. Sister took us both in and gave us each glasses of sweet tea and asked what happened. I told her how mean the other kids were. She then told us we were going to tell the class where his freckles came from. She brought us both up in front of the class. Sister Mary-I-Forgot-Her-Name told the class I would get a star for befriending someone that everyone else picked on. Then she handed out mirrors and asked people to count any freckles they had. The bully's of course HAD NONE. Sister said that's a shame. You have to earn freckles. Freckles are angel kisses. The more you have the more blessed you are. I was worried, I didn't have any. She said if you are really special, they turn into dark beauty marks like Cynthia has. I breathed a sign of relief!! We were everyone's friend after that. (sorry for the aside, just a fond childhood memory of an old lady)

And I just found an Italian restaurant called San Remo, that I will definitely try out, because it always reminds me of this wonderfully interesting flower. There are not too many flowers amongst amaryllis like San Remo.

That was a wonderful story, Cindee! I had lots of freckles as a kid! And your San Remo photo is yummy! I love the creamy/pink colors so far!

San Remo is on my wish list... I almost got that one from JS when we ordered, but chose Amalfi at the last moment... I should have gotten San Remo! Amalfi is refusing to take any pollen, and as the flowers fade, so does the whole green stem piece behind the flower... so much for Amalfi... I love the blooms, but not the fact that it seems to be a fragile bulb.

It might not be fragile, just the pollinating was not successful. Don't be discouraged. There will be way more unsuccessful pollinations than successful ones, believe me!

I suppose... by fragile, I meant that it appears to be very succeptable to rot... I'm afraid I'm going to have to operate again... after blooming slows down, I must un-pot it and check the roots and dust the bulb with Captan or something... it's red and soft at the soil line, and it's planted in pure cocopeat... It must have the virus inside the bulb... I don't know... I just don't want to lose it... it's a very good bloomer!

Good luck with it. I lost a Jewel this year. I just planted it and I just noticed when it was rotten already. So I bought a new one.

Well... if you remember, I had to perform surgery on Amalfi shortly after I got it... I noticed a red spot forming at the soil level, and when I un-potted it, I noticed it had a fairly large rotten spot... I cut out the rotten spot, dusted it with cinnamon and replanted it in coco coir. The rotten spot is back with a vengeance, and I don't know if I'll be able to save it this time! I'm hopeful of saving it, but not very confident that I will.

I don't like to lose plants... it doesn't sit well with me to not have the knowledge or power necessary to bring sick plants back to health... but then, I suppose the Garden in Heaven needs new plants, too...

Hmmmmm...I have been thinking about your problems with your bulbs Jodi. You mentioned about "rot in the soil line". I have been pondering about the quality of your coco coir too. When you soaked your coco coir in water, what color did the water had afterwards?

Believe me Jodi, I know that feeling of helplessness. Remember my sick Papilio? It is now starting to shed it's leaves one by one but still decides to put out a scape for me. I hate goodbyes!!!

I would have not planted the bulb back just let it sit on the surface of the soil (coco coir) without being submerged. This is what I do to bulbs that needed surgery, so humidity would not touch the sick part. Most of the time the sick part dries out in a week or so, and by the time the bulb finished flowering, it can be planted submerged already.

You know, Maria, I may have used the cheaper coir that came with the kits I bought... I potted Amalfi before I got my new bale of good cocopeat. I'll bet that's the problem! Thank you for thinking of that! I never would have put two and two together! That's probably it! Cheap coir! It's too salty!

Amalfi should be done blooming in a few days... I will un-pot it, clean it, get rid of the rot, dust it with Captan, and let it dry before carefully re-potting and allowing the wound area to remain on top of the medium, as Soultan suggests.

Thanks, guys! You've done it again! Yay! I might just be able to save Amalfi yet!

Your very welcome Jodic. I stopped using those coco pucks. The veggies get them in spring.

Hehe! Coco Pucks! Sounds like a cereal for Hockey players! I think I will save the pucks for seed starting outside in spring, and I'll wash it really well before using it, to rinse out any excess salts...

I have a new bale of coco coir from a reputable Hydroponics store... it has been cleaned of excess salts and has been processed so it's ready for growing.

Thanks again... it makes perfect sense... poor Amalfi... I almost murdered my beautiful bulb! I'm a bad plant Mommy!

You know how it is with first children... They are always the dummies, and the others later just benefit from your experience with them. :o)

I rather thought I was a bit experienced, having had Minerva for so long, and without any problems whatsoever... she grows in regular potting soil and gets no special treatment.

Perhaps I've been babying my new bulbs a little too much, and I should just let them do their thing... I have a tendency to water some of them a little too soon...

It almost seems like Minerva thrived on near neglect... there were times when I would not water her on a regular basis, and she always grew and bloomed wonderfully... so, maybe I should get back to basics, and not hover over them all...

Yes. You have learned on Minerva what to do to an amaryllis bulb: almost nothing. So keep yourself to the same trend and the others will thrive as well.