I don't remember the cost, Maria--just more than I'd pay for cut flowers. The one I cut is a four-year-old bulb I have that blooms reliably every year, despite the neglect it receives from me. It was a gift. Everyone gives me red amaryllises, even tho I ask for other colors, because I am sick of red after Christmas. I cut this after I posted and put it in a vase as part of a Valentine display. I love it--just hope it lasts at least a week. Thank your for the tip about changing the water every day--will do.

Hello chea; And: greetings from Duesseldorf, Germany, to Malaysia! I recommend exchanging seeds only. With bulbs you always risk to import dangerous critters (bulb scale mites; Steneotarsonemus laticeps) which are barely invisible to the unarmed eye. For my part: I am VERY interested in seeds from SELF pollinated Mrs. Garfield amaryllis. I shall have fresh seeds of big blooming amaryllis of my own breeding stock, namedly from an outstanding seedling of "unnamed black-red" x H."Picotee" which I shall self-pollinate: (The purple bloom with spotting) The seeds from the 8 flowers on two stems which are just unfolding from the bracteous leaves will be ripe (depending on the temperature profile...) in the beginning of August! Hans-Werner

Olga, thanks for finding this long lost post! Someone else read it and posted a question directly to me, which I've just answered. My email account has been on the blitz lately, so I just found your note to me today. I haven't been active on this forum in a long while, so it's amazing that both you and someone else found one of my old posts and are writing to me! An aside: hi to all of my old friends, I'll try to get active again soon! Hope all is well. To your question, I don't think cutting an amaryllis bloom would affect next year's growth, but I am NOT a botanist. It would depend on how you cut the stem, and if you damage the bulb when you cut. I've cut tulips and daffs dozens of times. Because I'm thrifty, I try not to cut into the bulb, but if you have many flowers (or a bigger budget), then the cut flower growers typically cut well into the bulb, or yank the bulb out of the ground all together, to get the longest possible stem length. As a home gardener just wanting a few flowers in your vase, I'd recommend leaving 1/2 inch or an inch of stem on the plant, and then enjoying the cut flowers as you wish. I always say "experiment, see if it works!" Try it w/ a sale amaryllis at Lowe's or Walmart. Cut the stem, plant the bulb in the ground, see what happens the following year. If it works you'll be set for the future years, if it doesn't, you haven't wasted much money. Maybe someone else can also chime in, who's been more active with flowers more recently than me. Hope this helps-- thanks for asking and pulling me back into the fold! At least temporarily! susiq.

Please bobul, do check out the FAQ pinned on top of this forum. There is plenty of information on how to treat your hippeastrums so that they bloom again. My answer very short: I usually cut down 3/4 of the scape so that I have something left sticking out of the bulb that I can pull out once it really starts welting. If you wait for the correct time you can pull out most of the scape so that these dead tissues don't remain in the bulb. Of course if you want your bulb to continue growing and flowering you should not by any instance cut leaves! Put the plant (as I wrote before) on a bright (best much direct sunlight) spot and water cautiously. Now without scapes and flowers to produce the plant does not need sooo much water. Rather wait a little until the leaves are well developed. The soil can dry out for a very short while, that is better than constant moisture.