Oklahoma Outside
Get Growing I
By Dee Nash
t’s the holiday season, and you’re probably busier than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers. The last thing you may want is one more thing to do. May I still tempt you with a large fl owering bulb from the tropical regions of South America, parts of the Caribbean and Mexico?
Although this tropical jewel is still called amaryllis by gardeners and hybridiz- ers, it correctly belongs to the genus Hippeastrum. Hippeastrum means “knight’s star” and may refer to the bloom’s star-like appearance.
Amaryllis make a great gift for green thumbs. Photos by Dee Nash
7 Growing Tips
1. Kits usually have coir material contained in the box. It will need to be rehydrated before you can use it. If you plan to overwinter your amaryllis, it would be better to use potting soil instead. You may notice that pots often don’t have a drainage hole. That’s okay. Just don’t overwater. If you move it outdoors in summer, drill a hole in the container fi rst.
2. If you buy an individual bulb, remember that a larger bulb means more fl owers. Choose a pot not much bigger or deeper than the bulb. Amaryllis like their quarters tight.
3. Potting soil is important. I use a well-draining potting soil from my local nursery. Don’t plant your ama- ryllis too deep. Place soil halfway up the bulb so its shoulders stick up out of the soil.
4. Water around the bulb and try not to splash water on top of it because it may rot. Water spar- ingly until the bulb begins to grow.
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Even then, keep things on the dry and cool side. Don’t overheat your house and don’t overwater.
5. For a professional decorator look, add natural materials to the top of the soil like stones, pebbles, moss, or even pinecones. Just don’t completely cover the bulb.
6. Before the bulb begins to grow, build in some support. Without support, your majestic fl ower will topple over. I like to use lengths of bamboo, sheet moss and twine, but you can support and decorate amaryllis any way you’d like. Don’t use anything that takes away from the plant’s natural beauty.
7. Set the pot near a window with bright light. Amaryllis are fast growers. Turn the pot every couple of days so that it grows straight and tall. Once fl owering shoots emerge, feed with a liquid fertilizer for best bloom. As with all indoor bulbs, the cooler the room, the longer blooms last.
As you fi nish your holiday shopping, pick up one of those Christmas amaryl- lis kits forlornly sitting in a corner of the department store or nursery. Take it home, pot it up and water. Gardening couldn’t be any easier.
Although hippeastrum are sold as Christmas projects, these bulbs aren’t just holiday fodder. In fact, amaryllis can brighten winter days long after the orna- ments are packed away for another year. They certainly last a lot longer than poinsettias, and there’s plenty of winter left before gardeners can dig in the dirt.
Hippeastrum make great presents. Each year I give one already potted up and growing to my mother. I keep the cultivar a surprise so she doesn’t know its color or form until it blooms. This present gives her more joy than anything else I can buy. I also grow a few pots for hostess gifts throughout the holidays. I explain that the plant needs to go in a sunny and cool spot for best results.
Amaryllis have no scent which can be a good thing. Some consider the scent of bulbs like paperwhites and hyacinths to be too strong. There are plenty of dif- ferent hippeastrum cultivars from which to choose too—from the standards ‘Red Lion’ and ‘Apple Blossom’ to more unique, spidery cybister types like ‘Chico’ and ‘La Paz.’
Hippeastrum are easy to grow. Being tropical, they require no cold period to bloom. When you buy a bulb in the store or online, everything it needs to grow is contained within. Tiny embryonic fl owers are just waiting to unfurl for you. Imagine having something beautiful to enjoy during Oklahoma’s gloomiest months of January and February. Just plant, water and support its long stems. Most hippeastrum produce two fl owering stalks with four to six blooms each, but sometimes, a large bulb will produce even more.
To have amaryllis blooms in time for Christmas, plant bulbs in October. How-
ever, you can plant bulbs anytime after you receive them. You can keep them in paper bags in a cool closet or room and wait to plant them just after the holi- days. Eight to 10 weeks after planting, you’ll have a fl ower that makes you stop and stare from across the room. Flowers can be single or double, large or small. If your room is small, try ordering one of the dwarf or even miniature varieties like ‘Picotee’ or ‘Exotic Star.’ ‘Estella’ only grows 18 inches tall.
If you buy a kit at the store, open the package fi rst and look for the largest bulb you can fi nd. The larger the bulb, the more stems it will grow. Some local nurseries also sell amaryllis individually. Again, look for the largest and heavi- est bulb. For the rarest bulbs, order from online specialists. I’ve bought from
Easy, yet mighty, amaryllis isn’t just for the holidays
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