| how do you keep the flower open and alive for the longest period....red lions...double spikes.....pots not in ground ...what is there flowering time too. thanks |
| Amaryllis grown or forced in pots will flower once a year. For the longest lasting flowers, keep the plant in a bright but cool location, about 65 degrees is a good temperature. Keep the soil barely moist and not soggy. A single bulb may put up as many as three or four bloom stems, but two stems is typical. To keep the bulbs from year to year, you need to encourage the foliage to grow. The foliage rebuilds the bulb so it can flower again. The plant also needs an annual rest period. Here's what to do: Once the blooms fade, trim them off, and then trim off the entire bloom stalk by cutting it off at the base. Allow the emerging foliage to grow. Keep the plant in a bright sunny location, keep the soil evenly moist but not sopping wet, and fertilize per label instructions with a water soluble fertilizer. In early fall, set the pot in a cool (about 50 degrees) dry location. Do not water it. Allow the leaves to shrivel and dry, then remove them. After eight to ten weeks of "resting", water it lightly and set it in a bright location. Keep the soil barely moist. The bulbs should send up bloom stalks and flower again in about a month. With care, this cycle can be repeated for years. Enjoy your amaryllis! |
