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Jan 29, 2012 9:29 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
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I was at Costco today and could not resist getting these bulbs labeled as Hymenocallis -Ismene Festalis. Just wondering how anyone's experience was regarding this plant. I like the photos I see and have been reading about it now. I will be planting mine in a container and hoping to see mid summer blooms.
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Jan 30, 2012 7:29 AM CST
Name: Lily Martagon
Du Page County Illinois (Zone 5a)
Tropicals I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Amaryllis Region: United States of America Plant and/or Seed Trader Seed Starter
Peonies Lilies Irises Region: Illinois Hostas Container Gardener
I have several bulbs of Ismene festalis and are growing in pots with fast draining soil mix. I feed them twice a month after they are done blooming. They are super easy to grow and hope you post some pics when they are blooming. Smiling
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Jan 30, 2012 7:30 AM CST
Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages Plant Identifier I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Avid Green Pages Reviewer
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Garden Ideas: Master Level Cat Lover Birds Region: Tennessee Echinacea
I grow mine in pots as well and they have done quite well.
I garden for the pollinators.
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Jan 30, 2012 9:40 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
So as I read about planting them, some say to plant with the neck showing, I guess like planting an amaryllis, while some says to put about 5 inches below. How did you plant these bulbs? Do I have to wait for spring or can I start it now? Our temperatures are swinging low 60's daytime and low 40's overnight these days, such a mild winter season we are having. The package that it came in shows our area's planting time to be Jan to March, but write-ups say plant in spring...sorry just confused with mixed info.
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Jan 30, 2012 9:56 AM CST
Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages Plant Identifier I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Avid Green Pages Reviewer
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Garden Ideas: Master Level Cat Lover Birds Region: Tennessee Echinacea
I planted mine a a few inches below the top of the soil but I don't think it was 5". They were dormant at the time with no growth showing yet. I'd say for your area maybe around the first of March or whenever temps are consistently above 50ยบ.
I garden for the pollinators.
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Jan 31, 2012 2:11 AM CST
central Illinois
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Avid Green Pages Reviewer Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Photo Contest Winner: 2017
I plant them just above soil line.
Thumb of 2012-01-31/jmorth/1496c0
Nothing that's been done can ever be changed.
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Jan 31, 2012 7:33 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
I have the ones below:

Spider Lily (Hymenocallis littoralis)

I planted mine right into the ground & left the neck sticking above. That was zone 10 southern coastal Fl.
And then I never had to do anything to them except water when drought hit & feed whenever I thought about it.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Feb 1, 2012 4:54 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
Just peeking as to how my new Ismene Festalis bulbs look like:
Got 9 new bulbs:


Close-up:
Thumb of 2012-02-01/tarev/e4cca6

Sooo tempted to start digging in...!

Somehow they look like onions but feels hard like a potato Big Grin
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Feb 18, 2012 1:01 AM CST
Name: Dianne
Sacramento, CA, zone 9b
Bulbs Region: California Cut Flowers Peonies Plant and/or Seed Trader Vegetable Grower
mine's tend to grow really well vegetatively, but have very little blooms. not sure what is causing it. I should probably try splitting it and moving some to another spot.
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Feb 18, 2012 10:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
I still have not started planting these bulbs...so tempted but have decided against it..too finicky high/low temps ...i guess just two to three more weeks of wait... Rolling my eyes.

I tested my noid amaryllis bulbs if they will take the present high/low temps outdoors and they were so miserable..so have put them back indoors, and since I have read somewhere that Ismene Festalis is also amaryllid, for sure it will hate it as well.
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Apr 5, 2012 6:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
So I have planted the Ismene Festalis bulbs last March 5th: 9 bulbs

There are 8 bulbs here, and I have added later a paperwhite bulb by the end of March, after being frustrated in forcing it indoors:
Thumb of 2012-04-06/tarev/fac245

the 9th Ismene Festalis bulb, went to the container with my Kniphofia sarmentosa, had nowhere else to put it Big Grin

Checking on them today, 05Apr, the 9th bulb is showing active growth in this container:

Thumb of 2012-04-06/tarev/b3ea9e

The other 8 bulbs are showing some green at their tips, but not as actively growing yet like the 9th bulb. And surprisingly the paperwhite bulb is the one in active growth Rolling my eyes.

Thumb of 2012-04-06/tarev/77e138

Ah the fun never ceases! Big Grin Rolling my eyes.
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Apr 6, 2012 2:34 AM CST
central Illinois
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Avid Green Pages Reviewer Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Photo Contest Winner: 2017
Keep us appraised of progress.
Nothing that's been done can ever be changed.
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Apr 6, 2012 2:51 AM CST
Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages Plant Identifier I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Avid Green Pages Reviewer
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Garden Ideas: Master Level Cat Lover Birds Region: Tennessee Echinacea
Looking good, tarev. I have a big pot of them that seem to have made it fine through the winter. Of course, here this year we are asking the question, "What winter?".
I garden for the pollinators.
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May 7, 2012 10:24 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
Just some progress photos of my Ismene Festalis..big set of leaves happily awake on the two containers it is planted in! Really likes getting their morning waterings Big Grin Only three bulbs so far having a slow start.

Thumb of 2012-05-07/tarev/5a1b62

Thumb of 2012-05-07/tarev/af84e4
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May 7, 2012 10:45 AM CST
Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages Plant Identifier I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Avid Green Pages Reviewer
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Garden Ideas: Master Level Cat Lover Birds Region: Tennessee Echinacea
Mine are up in my pot now too. Hurray!
I garden for the pollinators.
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May 7, 2012 10:50 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
Hurray! Tee! I have been inspecting my bulbs everyday...some opportunistic snails having a wanderlust on my other containers..luckily these two containers are so far safe!! Big Grin
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May 7, 2012 10:54 AM CST
Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages Plant Identifier I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Avid Green Pages Reviewer
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Garden Ideas: Master Level Cat Lover Birds Region: Tennessee Echinacea
We are the same zone so they might bloom for both of us at the same time. nodding
I garden for the pollinators.
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May 11, 2012 12:31 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
Hurray! Hurray! One of the Ismene Festalis bulbs has a nice flower bud showing!!

Thumb of 2012-05-11/tarev/c85fe8
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May 11, 2012 1:40 PM CST
Name: Deborah
midstate South Carolina (Zone 8a)
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff!
Charter ATP Member Amaryllis Tropicals Plant and/or Seed Trader Seed Starter Plumerias
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How cool is that! Thumbs up I have some in the ground that have never bloomed. I read somewhere that, although they go dormant here in zone 8, they don't like the cold. So, I dug up some of the bulbs, which multiplied rapidly, and put them in a paper bag in a closet. In April I planted them in pots instead of in the ground. Here's hoping for some blooms.
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May 11, 2012 1:49 PM CST
Name: Dianne
Sacramento, CA, zone 9b
Bulbs Region: California Cut Flowers Peonies Plant and/or Seed Trader Vegetable Grower
Deebie - I have problems with my bulbs blooming - the cold is not a problem here - so something else is causing the no blooming. I am almost ready to rip it out since it only sends out 1 or 2 blooms in any given year, but the vegetative growth takes up so much room.

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