Chatbug Karen

My son and his fiance brought me a bulb at Christmas time. I have been trying to remember the name of it. I could think of Fentraphen or armopin but those names didn’t sound quite right. I finally asked my son and, thankfully, he remembered. It is an Amaryllis. My mom has had Amaryllis plants but I have never really known much about them. They looked like this big huge bulb sitting in a pot of dirt. I wondered what I was going to do with this thing.

I sat it in a window sill and pretty much forgot about the poor thing. I did give it a little water every few weeks. I knew not to over water it because I take care of my mom’s plants while she is gone for the winter. Here is what my Amaryllis looks like today!

Oh my gosh! Look at all those lady bugs that have invaded again. (I keep sucking them up in my vacuum cleaner).

I found the following information at Amaryllis.com:

Quick Tips:

* Planting Period: October until the end of April.
* Flowering Period: Late December until the end of June.
* Flowering time is 7-10 weeks.
* Larger bulbs produce more flowers.
* Always store un-planted bulbs in a cool place between 40-50 deg. F.

Amaryllis-One of a Kind
Of all flowering bulbs, amaryllis are the easiest to bring to bloom. they haven’t meet me, Miss Brown Thumb This can be accomplished indoors or out, and over an extended period of time. The amaryllis originated in South America’s tropical regions and has the botanical name Hippeastrum. The large flowers and ease with which they can be brought to bloom make amaryllis popular and in demand worldwide. The amaryllis comes in many beautiful varieties including various shades of red, white, pink, salmon and orange. There are also many striped and multicolored varieties, usually combining shades of pink or red with white.

Preparation for Planting

The base and roots of the bulb should be placed in lukewarm water for a few hours. Remember, if you cannot plant the bulbs immediately after receiving them, store them at a cool temperature between 40-50 degrees F. Ooops! I didn’t do this.

Planting

Plant bulbs in a nutritious potting compost, many are available pre-mixed. Plant the bulb up to its neck in the potting compost, being careful not to damage the roots. Press the soil down firmly to set the bulb securely in place after planting.