The Samba is starting to bloom:

Fiat, its pretty, but I'm not 100% sure that is actually Samba. If you go to the White Flower Farm website and check their list of bare root Amaryllis bulbs. Their Samba, which is where I got my last year, has a distinctive white edge all away around. If you check the ATP database, both boojum's and my Samba have a white edge. Go to the website where you purchased it, what does their photo look like. Possibly different growers are using the name Samba for different cultivars. Those of us in the Amaryllis community are always
concerned about mislabeled bulbs.

Fiat, I just went to the Easy to Grow website. Their photo of Samba has the white edge, so I'm suspicious that they sent you a mislabeled bulb. You can take another look and see if anything on their website looks more like your flower.

Uh-oh! Seems like it Fiat...somehow it reminds me of a Minerva...but it is still pretty...let's wait and see how it looks like fully open.

Oh, It does lack the white edge! After full bloom, see if white edge shows. If not, time to call ETG!

Samba pic from supplier:

As the bloom opens nearly full, it looks almost like the 'Celebration'. Can anyone confirm?

Fiat, it could be Celebration. The edge is a bit more ruffled than my Celebration, but that's not necessarily a deal breaker. Looking at my own photos, that ID is the best that I could give. Any body else want to venture an opinion?

Thanks, Barbara. I just emailed the pic to ETG after they apologized and would offer a replacement immediately. And then their quick answer to the pic comes as " Vera"! I thought Vera is more "pink" tone, not as red as Celebration. Any way, the new (real) Samba will be out of dormancy and ready to grow as ETG mentioned but now my trouble to make next move is: to plant it in pot with soil? or in water container? According to ETG, soil is the way to go as their reason for fast bloom. I have doubt on that. I also complained to them that both bulbs only have one single bloom stalk and their answer: will grow second or more stalk later. But I don't have the hope. Anybody's comment?

Vera is pink not red. I wouldn't expect them to grow a second scape this season. It shouldn't make any difference, in how fast you get flowers, growing the bulb in water or soil for this first blooming. But if it were me, I would plant the bulb in soil, at least after this first bloom.

Well, just as I thought: ETG has no Celebration in sale list. The Vera at their site is surprisingly red! I don't know what's going on ...

The Vera in the front looks closer to its actual color which is rich raspberry pink. The Vera in the back looks redder. I think its a trick of photography. No matter what EGB tells you, Vera is not red.

Nonetheless, they put that one on sale as 'Vera' and no 'Celebration' on the list. So the bulb I received from them which is confirmed as not Samba could only be 'Vera' because they don't offer Celebration. But it could always be possible that they mistakenly id the bulbs they produce or what they produced is a hybrid. Now I don't know how to label my blooming bulb

Well, you've probably gone as far as you can in terms of IDing your Noid. All of us have unknown ones. Whatever EGB claims it is, they still sent you a mislabeled bulb, which is not acceptable.

I agree Barbara, it is not acceptable.

Fiat, I know how you feel because it happened to me and I was so disappointed. However I was lucky and got an ID on it. So maybe in time someone will be able to ID yours too, it is very pretty.

That is indeed frustrating Fiat...it also happened to me on my first attempt to grew Amaryllis, but I have learned to pick my battles. Just took it in stride, as a learning phase. I just keep the bulb and continue growing them..learning more as I grow them. Every growing season is different, so it is a continuous learning process for me. You can lodge a written complaint on your seller's page, so others will be aware of the possiblity of mistakes and how your complaint was handled.

Thanks, everyone. ETG's replacement bulb is on the way (tracking estimate Friday the arriving day). I am still wondering which way to go, soil or water? ...

Now 3 Peacock flowers are gone and the 4th is fading away too... time to cut off the stalk? If I remember right, it will be from about 1" above the bulb? Please confirm (both timing and cutting point). Thanks

Fiat, personally I would plant the new bulb in soil. All of mine are in soil and I have had 100 % success again this year with getting them to produce bloom scapes.

About 1 to 1 1/2 inches is fine, have a paper towel handy as you will find a lot of liquid will be released after cutting the stalk, just dab the cut until it stops. This article may be helpful to you.
http://garden.org/ideas/view/m...

You can certainly try to use soil this time..it will help you learn more and evaluate which method will really work best for your growing area. As you know I have 1 one in the clay rocks set-up and the others in soil..it helps me see and understand how the bulb grows.

Thanks, Margaret. The cutting tip for A. bloom stalk is wonderful. I have got a special garden scissors just for cutting Amaryllis stalks, so probably less difficult.

Thanks, Tarev (and Barbara) for suggesting use soil. I now plan to do so for the coming "Samba". Last week, I bought this beautiful African Violet and in the pot there are some "straw-like" covering. I saw that is used by some Amaryllis sellers for covering potted bulbs or grown plants. Just wonder what's the name of it? Can I find it in HD or other stores?

I think those straw- like stuff are dried up spanish moss.