what do you do with hippeastrum after flowering

What do you do with Hippeastrum after flowering? After flowering is finished (usually within 2-3 weeks), cut flower stems close to the bulb. You can then take the bulb out of the pot (with its leaves) and plant into the garden or a larger pot as preferred (put some well-decayed cow manure into the soil first).

Full Answer

What do you feed Hippeastrum after they bloom?

When the flower buds appear, feed weekly with a weak solution of liquid tomato fertiliser high in potash, such as Tomorite. What to do when hippeastrum have finished flowering. Many people consign hippeastrum to the rubbish bin after they’ve finished flowering, but with care you can enjoy them for years.

Do Hippeastrum bulbs come back to life?

Many Hippeastrum bulbs are disposed of after they have flowered, which is a shame as keeping them going requires only a little effort. With the right care, amaryllis can be encouraged to re-flower for many years. If it is kept somewhere frost-free, it may flower again, this time in spring or early summer.

How do I plant Hippeastrum?

In pots, use a good quality potting or bulb mix, and place some pieces of stone at the bottom of the pot to assist with drainage. Hippeastrum are supplied as a dormant bulb. Unpack immediately and keep in an airy position until ready to plant, making sure the roots do not dry out too much. Do this even if you are not planting immediately.

What do you do with the flowers after they bloom?

After the plant has bloomed its heart out for you, carefully cut the flower stalks off as close to the bulb as you can. Be careful not to cut into any leaves.

How do you care for Hippeastrum after flowering?

Individual Hippeastrum stems do not reflower, so after a bloom has faded, you can cut the stem close to the top of the bulb. This keeps plants looking tidy while minimising the risk of fungal infections. Cut the leaves off only when they've completely died off.

Should I cut the leaves off my Hippeastrum?

Hippeastrum leaves will die down naturally after flowering. We don't advise removing the leaves before this time because they are supplying the plant with food for next years flowers. With regard to division, hippeastrums can be divided in the dormant period (early to mid winter) if they are congested.

What do I do with my amaryllis now it has finished flowering?

After the flowers fade, cut off the flower stalk with a sharp knife. Make the cut 1 to 2 inches above the bulb. Don't damage the foliage. In order for the bulb to bloom again next season, the plant must replenish its depleted food reserves.

How do I keep my amaryllis bulb for next year?

Store your bulb in a cool, dry, dark place like an unheated but attached garage, your basement, or the crisper of a refrigerator where the temperature ranges between 50 and 55 Fahrenheit for eight to 12 weeks. Do not store amaryllis bulbs in a fridge that has apples inside because this will sterilize the bulbs.

Should I cut the dead flowers off my amaryllis?

Remove dead flowers from the stem as each blossom passes. Once all buds have bloomed and flowering is complete, cut the entire stem one to tow inches above the bulb. Leaves should be left on the plant until they turn yellow as they provide nutrients for the bulb so it will rebloom the next year.

When can I cut the leaves off my amaryllis?

Continue to water and fertilize as normal all summer, or for at least 5-6 months, allowing the leaves to fully develop and grow. When the leaves begin to yellow, which normally occurs in the early fall, cut the leaves back to about 2 inches from the top of the bulb and remove the bulb from the soil.

When should I put amaryllis in the dark?

The temperature should be around 50-60 degrees. Let the leaves become brown and dry before cutting them off. Leave the potted bulb in the dark for 8 to 12 weeks.

Can you leave bulbs in pots?

You can grow virtually any bulb in containers, and you can mix different types of bulbs together, too. In fact, it's a lot like growing bulbs in the ground. Start with a container with drainage holes so that excess water can escape, and plant your bulbs in the fall.

Can an amaryllis bulb be reused?

After your amaryllis has rested for 2 to 5 months, you can start again. There's no rush, so if you have several bulbs you may want to start them at different times. Repot the bulb using fresh growing mix. Water once and move the pot into a bright, 60-65°F room.

How do you store bulbs after they bloom?

Store bulbs in a dry place. Store your flower bulbs in a dry place until you're ready to replant them. Aim for a storage temperature of 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, such as a garage or refrigerator.

How do I get my amaryllis to bloom after it grows long leaves?

In order for the bulb to bloom again next season, the plant must replenish its depleted food reserves. The strap-like leaves manufacture food for the plant. Place the plant in a sunny window and water when the soil surface is nearly dry. Fertilize every 2 to 4 weeks with a dilute fertilizer solution.

Why does my amaryllis only have leaves?

If you fail to give the plant its rest period, you may see leaves but no flowers on amaryllis. Likewise, if you fail to allow the bulb to rebuild its nutrients in a sunny location after the flowers fade, the result may be amaryllis, all leaves but no flowers.

Why are the leaves on my amaryllis turning yellow?

Amaryllis is an easy-care plant, provided the basic needs are met. When they don't get the right amount of water, fertilizer or sunlight at the proper time in their bloom cycle, it may result in limp, yellow leaves. You can prevent this situation and increase your plant's lifespan by keeping its basic needs in mind.

Do Hippeastrums multiply?

Hippeastrums can be propagated by division the small plantlets or offsets growing from the mother plant called pups. After dividing the pups they can be transplanted into another pot around May or June and then you would expect these pups to flower within three years.

How long do hippeastrums bloom?

Also known as amaryllis, this herbaceous perennial produces showy trumpet-shaped flowers for up to 3 weeks in summer. Suited to both pots and beds, they can be used to create stunning Christmas features.

What kind of soil do hippeastrums like?

Go for well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Hippeastrums are quite adaptable to most soil types, although they aren’t as keen on very sandy soil.

How to treat fungus on bulbs?

Badly infected bulbs need to be removed and destroyed as secondary infections can cause the bulbs to rot. Moderate to mild infections can be controlled using a systemic fungicide such as Mancozeb, Banrot or Benlate on a regular basis. Eradication is very difficult so cultural controls are required to keep this infection at bay, and under control. Avoid overhead watering and getting the foliage wet to minimise this disease, and regularly spray foliage with a fungicide, particularly as plants are beginning to go dormant as this is a time when infections can return to the bulb, and the weather begins to become cool and wet, providing ideal conditions for active spores to spread. A wet cool growing season will also see this disease prevalent as this sort of weather allows the spores to proliferate.

Why are my hippeastrum bulbs turning red?

Symptoms of this disease in bulbs are red spots with definite margins that develop into soft sunken patches on the bulb, sometimes radiating all the way through several layers. Care needs to be taken when diagnosing this disease as any damage to Hippeastrum bulbs will cause a red mark on the bulb, similar to brusing on our skin. Always look for the characteristic margins and soft sunken patches to correctly diagnose this issue.

What is the family of hippeastrum?

Taxonomy: Hippeastrum is a genus in the family Amaryllidaceae.

When to replant bulbs in the garden?

Dusting with micronised sulphur helps protect against fungal infections during storing. Replant bulbs again from September.

Why do you need to spray a plant with a sandpaper?

This may be necessary to prevent the infection from spreading to neighbouring plants .

How to grow hippeastrum in a container?

Hippeastrum prefer to grow in well drained compost, so mix a handful of Perlite (available in small bags from garden centres) together with some multipurpose compost, then pour a layer of the mixture into the bottom of your container. Holding the bulb by its long neck, lower the roots in and cover with compost. Unlike most bulbs that need burying two to three times their depth, these should have their neck and shoulders above ground level.

How to keep tomato plants upright?

As the leaves and flower stalk develop, turn the pot slightly every day so it remains upright, rather than growing at an angle towards the sun. Water the compost regularly to prevent it drying out completely, but avoid overwatering. When the flower buds appear, feed weekly with a weak solution of liquid tomato fertiliser high in potash, such as Tomorite.

How to plant a bulb before planting?

Before planting, take your bulb out of its packaging and remove the papery tunic that covers it. If it doesn’t flake off easily, rub the bulb gently between the palms of your hand.

Do hippeastrums need special care?

Hippeastrum, which are also known by their common name amaryllis, need special care to bloom, but with a little attention you can ensure that these showy houseplants provide you with a great display year after year.

Do you need a pot for bulbs?

Some bulbs come packaged with a pot, but if not you’ll need one that is deep and wide enough for the roots to sit in comfortably. Place in the centre of a pot – there should be enough room to fit your thumb between the outside of the bulb and the container.

How to keep amaryllis from forming leaves?

In July, suspend fertilizing to get the plant ready for its dormant period. This prevents new leaves from forming, which will just tax the bulb when it should be saving energy.

How long do amaryllis flowers last?

Amaryllis flowers may last for weeks but, eventually, all things come to pass. No matter, as you still have glossy green leaves that are gathering the sun’s energy to fuel another bloom. Since this is the plant’s active growth period, it is important to continue to offer water, food and sunlight.

How long does it take for amaryllis to bloom?

Dormancy occurs as a natural response to cooler temperatures. In the case of amaryllis, the temperatures should be 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 C.) for 8 to 10 weeks to promote reblooming.

Do amaryllis blooms fade?

Once the flowers fade, you are still left with a spectacular plant. Caring for amaryllis plants after blooming varies little from regular bloom care, but it is important to provide a dormancy period for the bulb if you want additional flowers in the future.

What is a hippeastrum?

Hippeastrum. Hippeastrums are big, bold, voluptuous and brassy and their strong colours work particularly well in our bright Australian light. Wild species grow in South America, but the varieties sold today are the result of years of intensive hybridising. Blooms are now large, flared trumpets in a dazzling range of colours.

Where was the Hippeastrum segment filmed?

Our segment was filmed at Maguire’s Hippeastrum Farm, 409 Kiel Mountain Road, Woombye, QLD, 4559. Phone (07) 5448 5640. The farm will be open to the public from 8-5pm, 7 days a week from mid September to mid November.

Can spectacular flowers grow in shade?

large spectacular flowers wide range of colours and sizes will tolerate light to dappled shade and fairly average soil almost indestructible

Non-Blooming Amaryllis

Every amaryllis is a non-blooming amaryllis some of the time. To figure out when it is normal to see no flowers on amaryllis plants, you need a basic understanding of the garden life of an amaryllis bulb.

Amaryllis All Leaves and No Flowers

When you try to get your amaryllis to rebloom, you may find that the amaryllis grows leaves but no flowers. If it turns out that you get no flowers on amaryllis plants, one of several things may be amiss.

Where was the plant I documented in this post kept?

The plant I documented in this post was kept in a large, Southern exposure window that was very sunny.

How to plant a bulb in the ground?

A very important step in planting the bulb is to make sure you don’t bury the whole bulb under the soil. Keep the top 1/3 to 1/2 (at the most) above the surface of the soil. Lastly, be sure to gently firm the soil down with your hands.

How long does it take for a flower to grow from a bulb?

Wait until the top couple inches of potting soil are dry before watering again. Within a few days to a couple weeks or so, you should be able to see the flower stalk (s) emerging from the bulb. Sometimes when you purchase your bulb, the flower stalk has already started in growth.

How to keep a sage bulb from turning yellow?

The foliage will start to yellow and wilt. When all the foliage is yellowed or dried up, take a sharp, sterilized knife or scissors and cut all the leaves off down to the neck of the bulb.

When to return amaryllis to sunny window?

Return Your Amaryllis to Your Window. After the 4-6 week rest period for your amaryllis, it is time to return your amaryllis to your sunny window. At this time, it is also important to replenish the nutrients in the soil.

Do you need a drainage hole for a bulb?

Planting the Bulb. Regardless what pot you choose, it MUST have a drainage hole. Don’t even think of planting in a pot with no drainage hole. I like to place a broken pot shard over the drainage hole, and use a general all-purpose potting soil (I really love Espoma’s potting soil) to which I mix a good bulb food.

Timing and watering are key to make the gorgeous flowers come back

Nadia Hassani is a gardening expert with nearly 20 years of experience in landscaping, garden design, and vegetable and fruit gardening. She became a Penn State Master Gardener in 2006 and is a regular contributor to Penn State Master Gardener publications.

The Life Cycle of Amaryllis

Amaryllis, a plant native to Central and South America, does not undergo true dormancy. Instead, the bulbs go through a rest period after flowering which allows them to recover and bloom again.

Caring for Amaryllis After the Bloom

Amaryllis care after the bloom falls into three stages: during the leaf growth until late summer, the rest period in the fall, and regrowth and rebloom in the late fall/early to mid-winter. The care for your amaryllis also depends on whether you are timing the bloom, for example for a holiday, or let it rebloom naturally.