I growing amaryllis for several years for now,all in pots. I tested both local sandy ground and also ground that I bought in nurseries. Both gave average results. But then I started to put dry manure (horse or cows) on the bottom of the post. First I was afraid that it will kill the plants (most plants cannot survive on pure manure), but amaryllis not only survived, but started to grow like crazy. I got small bulb, started in the beginning last summer at about 25 mm (one inch) diameter, in the end of this winter it is about 48-50 cm in diameter (almost 2 inches). Bulb started as 32 mm (inch and quarter ), now it is over 60 cm in diameter (2 inches and quarter) in diameter and will bloom this summer (I can see bud emerging from the bulb). I now adding up to 1/3 of the manure to the pot and amaryllis love it.

I first tested it on my bulbs, and then on the bulbs that I bought from local nurseries, same result.

I do not know if this is only manure, or local hot weather as well.

Anyone else using the manure as a fertilizer for amaryllis ?

I don't use manure, only because I don't have any. But I do use a fair amount of compost in mine, and they seem to like it a lot. I would actually use some manure in my pots if I had any.

I find dry cow manure in the forest. We have nearby several kibbutz with dairy farming . In the winter, when there is a lot of grass outside, so they let them greasing in the forest from time to time.

Sangel , Amaryllis are heavy feeders during the active growing period. As long as the manure is old and starting to break down, It should be fine.

@bsharf@

They need only Nitrogen, or phosphorus/potassium /Magnesium as well ?

Because for some plants were I do not use manure, I use only urea, but for others I have to add K2SO4, Fe2(SO4)3, MgSO4, and K3PO4 or (NH4)3PO4 .

I have grown a lot of plants in as much as 50% manure in volume with no ill effects. On top of that I have started adding some NPK fertilizer when transplanting Cruciferae. They seem to love it, but the joke is always that cabbages do well when planted near a cemetery.

I have two x Amarcrinum bulbs I have to pot by Sunday and they'll get their share of manure, no doubt about it.

@sangel - they do also need phosphorus & potassium. Since they are a bulb. I chop up banana peels to put on them, along with some coffee grounds. Also some egg shells on occasion. And then mix in some compost.

Bunny berries in mine. Because of the small nature of the berries, it mixes in well. Fresh or old, the plants love it!

"Bunny berries" -- gotta remember that term. So much better than "poop"!

Horse apples, cow pies. You can dress them all up.

Horse Apples and Bunny Berries!

Anyone interested in seeing how much is too much? I have some Walmart plants and would be happy to overdo it with 1 of them. Maybe it will handle it. Maybe it will self destruct. I have no idea, but should be fun.

No replies, no problem. I was so excited I did it anyway.




Started with a 11 inch or 28cm pot.



Cut up some banana plant tops to plug the holes. This helps to keep the soil in when watering. Also the organic mater breakers down to become food as the roots take there place to hold in the soil.



Plant to test or destroy. Also shot of the roots.

I removed the top layer of growing media to get a measurement. 18cm


Added a small amount of regular soil to the bottom between the fruit salad and the rootball.


And the rest is all bunny berries. We will see what happens. I am guessing some of the material will break down fairly quickly and I will be able to add more. Time will tell.

I also use compost to grow amaryllis, they seems to be do not care about the soil, I can even use dry leaves on the bottom of the pot

Good to know. I might try compost next time.

Just checked up on the plant. No difference so far. Still the same 6 leaves with no noticeable change in color. Only been 6 days.

Seed2Bloom said:Just checked up on the plant. No difference so far. Still the same 6 leaves with no noticeable change in color. Only been 6 days.

here is mine




Re potted to a bigger pot after the bloom, no new ground, only manure and a lot of leaves.

Plant make take time to grow new leaves. First of all all energy is going to grow the root system , to absorb nutrients so leaves may grow then.
Also growing leaves need high temperature (at least 85 F in my case).

Looks like the little ones like the berries also.

This is the plant I tried to overload on bunny berries. It pretty much just sat there all summer and did nothing. Now that summer is nearly over and fall is getting started it decided to send up 6 new leaves. You can see from my June picture how much the berries have broken down. Lots of room in the pot again near the top.