Container Gardening

Your amaryllis bulb will grow for many years just like your tulip bulbs. The plant just needs time to store energy in the bulb for next season. For the bulb to gather this energy take the following steps:

1. When the flowers fade, cut the flower stalk back to just above the bulb.

2. Keep watering and fertilizing until the plant goes dormant

3. You can place the plant outdoors for the summer in partial shade making sure to keep the soil moist but not wet.

4. Stop feeding in August.

When it is time to bring the plant indoors move your Amaryllis to a cool (10-15 celsius) and stop watering. Remove the dry foliage. The lack of foliage and water will induce the amaryllis to send out another flower stalk. Resume watering and move the plant to a warm and sunny spot.

After a year or two the bulb will get bigger and you will have to repot it into a bigger pot. The best part is the flowers will also get bigger.

Lori

Tags: Bulbs

The poinsettias are on display for the Christmas season but it is the Amaryllis that I am waiting for — the true Christmas flower.

Poinsettias are used for a short time at Christmas and discarded shortly thereafter. They can be grown indoors and bloom again but I’ve never been that lucky.

Now, Amaryllis, by favourite Christmas flower, are in stores now as bulbs. When buying make sure that at least half of the bulb is above the soil. Do not try to bury the bulb. Place the potted bulb in a warm place with direct light. The heat is necessary for the development of the stems. Water sparingly until the bud and leaves appear.

It takes about 40 days from potting the bulb till the plant blooms appear.

I have been very lucky with Amaryllis. I have one bulb already for many years and it blooms every year with more and more flowers.

In my next article I will reveal my tips and tricks on how to keep the amaryllis bulbs blooming year after year.

Lori

Tags: amaryllis, Bulbs

The gardening season has ended in my yard. It was frosty this morning and now it is time to clean up and put the bulbs and dahlias away till next spring.

Begonias will also keep for next spring if stored properly. Some gardeners throw away their begonia bulbs and buy new ones each year but you don’t have to.

Just before the frost arrives move the begonias in an area away from frost. Discontinue watering and let the leaves dry down. Cut the stems off about an inch above the bulb and find a cool, dry spot. It is important not to allow them to freeze and storing just above freezing is ideal.

Spring 2009, about mid-March, bring them out to warm air and start watering them. You will be surprised at how quickly they put out new growth. The begonias will be ready to bloom by June.

Begonias, in the growing season, should be fed with a low nitrogen plant food. A 15-30-15 water soluble will give you good growth and plenty of begonia blossoms.

Lori

Tags: Bulbs

Many bulbs can be forced to bloom indoors. Daffodil bulb varieties such as Dutch Master (yellow) and Salome (white) and among tulip bulb varieties, Triumphs and some Darwin hybrids are the easiest to force. Only purchase Hyacinth bulbs that have been specifically prepared for forcing into early blooming.

The bulbs should be planted from mid October to early November and will need a minimum of 12 weeks of cold treatment. Once the bulbs are planted, the containers should be placed in an unheated place about 4 - 8 Celsius. The refrigerator is a good place if you have room.

Water only when the surface of the soil begins to dry out. The soil should not completely dry out, as the roots will be damaged. If bulbs are over-watered they will rot. Check the containers weekly and use containers with good drainage.

When the bulbs have top shoots, about an inch high, take the bulbs out from the cold storage and place them in a spot out of direct sunlight.  Let them slowly adjust to the warmer temperature and fertilize each time you water. It will take about another 3 to 4 weeks before they bloom.

Lori

Tags: Bulbs

Now is the time to plan how many bulbs you want to plant in your garden and when you would like the bulbs to reveal themselves.  September 15th to the 30th is the ideal time to plant most bulbs for blossom in 2009.

Remember, some bulbs bloom early while others take longer. Even within a species, such as tulips, there are early blooming bulbs and late blooming bulbs so be sure to check.  Hyacinths, crocus and the old reliable King Alfred daffodils can all be nice spring blossoms.

Lori

Tags: Bulbs