Haven't seen any Chicos posted for a while so here mine this year.

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7 years ago

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dondeldux z6b South Shore Massachusetts

6 years ago

Beautiful!! Mine is blooming now too on a new bulb; it's always a new bulb when one blooms for me!!

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dondeldux z6b South Shore Massachusetts
7 years ago
Beautiful!! I don't seem to have much luck growing Chicos another year. They shrink and then I had to buy another but I didn't get a new one this year so I'm Chico deprived!! Thanks for sharing yours!
ollli96
7 years ago
My chico was planted the end of October and it hasnt grown.. no roots leafs or any buds.. I noticed it didn't the have any when dallas had some violent storms and it knocked it down..
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berkeleysgr8
7 years ago
I haven't been successful in getting Chico to bloom, even when I have purchased new bulbs. I've had at least 4 bulbs and I gave one to my mother too. My last bulb ended up getting red blotch this winter. The mother bulb keeps shrinking and won't put out leaves, but I have lots of offsets. If they're not infected, I might end up with several full-sized Chicos in a few years. Thanks for sharing your picture... Chico is very unique!
dondeldux z6b South Shore Massachusetts
7 years ago
Tina, I think I've had at least 4 or or 5 Chico bulbs during the past 10 or so years too!! I hope they never discontinue it!! A perfectly blooming Chico is a sight to behold!!

Another one I have much trouble with is Rio Negro which I've had at least 5 of over the years!!

Donna
berkeleysgr8
7 years ago
The color, shape and form of Chico are all exquisite! I'd love to see one blooming in person (same can be said for my Sprekelia)!
dondeldux z6b South Shore Massachusetts
7 years ago
Well, I usually always have the best luck with a new bulb, never a re-bloom. Even though you and Ollli haven't had luck with new bulbs, don't give up!! I guess next year I'll have to try again. I just located my only Chico and it down to the size of a golf ball, barely....
jstropic (10a)
7 years ago
I have had the same experience with Chico, although I still have the parent bulb and one offset - no flowers. Maybe Patrick can give us some pointers! - J
User
Original Author
7 years ago
The 2 scapes are from the same bulb . I give them max sun and sharp drainage. Fertilize with fish emulsion and liquid seaweed. Couple times a year apply epsom salts. Keep fairly dry in the winter. Give a deep pot. At least, that's what I do.
catsandhippies
7 years ago
Beautiful pictures! I ordered Chico 2 years ago and got a bulb that had some rot and did nothing after cleaning. They sent me a refund bulb that turned out to be Rosario. the first bulb grew roots finally and lots of offsets but no leaves or flowers. One year later all the bigger offsets rotted although I kept them very dry. I could save some of the smallest and they are still there but not growing very well. After reading of your experiences I think they are really Chico!
jstropic (10a)
7 years ago
Patrick, I'm in Florida so max sun might be too much? Will start with seaweed and fish emulsion as I have some from my fertilizer tea experiment lol. Also how do you apply the epsom salt. And thanks for the tips!
Fred Biasella
7 years ago
I got my Chico from Royal Colors in 2015 and I'm totally in love with it. It bloomed in 2016 and very happily in 2017 and I'm taking full advantage of the blooms with some "hopefully" interesting crosses. I know they look a bit mushy from the crossings but still quite pretty.
timhensley
7 years ago
Gorgeous.
jstropic (10a)
7 years ago
Fred, they are gorgeous!! Obviously you know how to pamper this one lol.

I always wonder if the high humidity and heat are difficult for some. Mine seems ok, it just doesn't flower lol. Sort of my like my hippeastrum reticulatum var. striatifolium (or whatever its new name is). The leafy hippies are ok, I'm just partial to the flowering kind :) - J
dondeldux z6b South Shore Massachusetts
7 years ago
Oh Fred, your Chico is lovely and your documentation of your crosses is so neat and orderly, unlike myself! I'm sure you'll get many tiny viable seeds from your rooted Chico!!

I guess next year I'll try another. ☺☺
Ely Heliconias
6 years ago
After i buy las spring from easytogrownbulbs (2 Chico bulbs) was wrong colors, so I complain about, they send remplacen ( wrong again) different hippeastrum so I buy this time from WFF ,and am so happy with my 2 bulbs Chico
agapanthe64
6 years ago
I too have difficulties with Chico, maybe I should make a much more draining substrate? they survive but are not beautiful and do not bloom anymore.

I had to buy this year, so no merit, it's a new bulb!

All growing tips are welcome
berkeleysgr8
5 years ago
My Chico babies seem to be doing well with a rather moist growing medium. The weather here is quite hot and dry (this past Saturday was well over 100 degrees... my car was registering the temperature as 102 degrees at 6:30 PM!). I'll definitely need to bring the bulbs in and keep them relatively dry over winter though... otherwise they'll rot. After losing the mother bulb to red blotch, I treated some of the babies with bleach and heat (using a sous vide for consistent temps) and some with a high concentration of H2O2 and heat. They don't seem to have red blotch this year.