Amarylis

[devadiva]

This winter, for the first time, I have managed to grow an amarylis. Now the flowering time is over, what do I do with the plant? Do I let it dry out until planting time comes around, do I cut the leaves off or wait until they dry out? Any advice would be very welcome, Thanks

[carlton23]

Don`t cut the foliage becausse this is next years food for next years flowers. Keep watering and fertilizing the foliage as you would before flowering until next September. At this point, put the plant into a warm dark and dry place such as a closet. Don`t water or fertilize during the `rest` period. Then late October, move it back to the sunny window and start the process all over again. When properly cared for a Amaryllis can flower for up to 75 years! (my age)

[woofgang]

From now till autumn, you should water (not lots) and feed the bulb. Tomato feed is as good as anything. It will sprout an enormous tuft of leaves and these will make the nourishment for next years flower. Grow the plant on in a warm bright spot (windowsill or unheated greenhouse). In the autumn as the temperatures drop, stop watering and let the pot dry out completely. The leaves will wither and dry off. Once the whole thing is dry and the leaves are completely dry, they can be trimmed off leaving an inch or two of dried leaf. this should now be around november december time DON'T LET THE POT FREEZE!! Give it a month or so's rest in a cool dark place then repot the bulb in a little fresh damp compost and bring it into light and warmth. Keep the soil only just damp until the bud is through...you may not need to water it at all if it is in normally humid surroundings...and off you go again. The flowers probably won't be as big or numerous as they were the first year as this is a prepared bulb that will not have been allowed to flower before being sold. it will also have been treated like they treat hyacinths to get it to flower earlier.
I had 5 or 6 that used to flower every year treated like this until the mice got into my greenhouse and ate them :-(

[woofgang]

good morning carlton!!

[devadiva]

Thank you for your informative answers.

[carlton23]

Morning woofgang, do your fingers ache?

[woofgang]

nah, I type with my nose :-)

[carlton23]

The Snoz lives.

[woofgang]

lol....you need to clean the keyboard afterwards (TMI lol)