Hippeastrum, the impatient gardener’s delight
Patience may be a virtue, but it’s rather time-consuming waiting for something exciting to happen. That’s why Hippeastrum, better known as amaryllis (but not to be confused with the indigenous Amaryllis species) are the go-to bulb for those with a little less patience than the virtuous.
Because they flower within eight weeks of planting, they’re a hit with gardeners who thrive on immediate gratification.
Normal planting time is from September to November, so these trumpet-shaped blooms appear around the festive season, giving them their other common name, Christmas flower.
Choose a sunny spot for planting, and make sure you have the right soil (about two thirds potting soil mixed with one third sand). Because of their already present roots, soil should be loosened to 30cm so that these roots can hang without breaking. Carefully fill the spaces around and between the roots with soil, leaving the top third of the bulb exposed above ground. Tap this soil to remove air pockets, and water immediately, making sure the water reaches root level. Don’t water these bulbs again until you see them developing shoots, then water them about twice a week.
Drainage is very important in order to prevent the bulbs from rotting, and another thing to be avoided is the black-and-yellow caterpillar, the lily borer, who will very willingly eat down to the heart of the bulb if you don’t find him in time. It’s a good idea to use the Margaret Roberts Biological Caterpillar Insecticide to eliminate this occurrence. Make the right moves and you’ll soon have flowers in full bloom.
An added bonus with Hippeastrum is that they can be forced to remain dormant until such a time that you wish to plant them. By placing bulbs in the fridge, in a separate, protected drawer so as not to affect the rest of your fridge’s contents, their growth can be resisted until such a time that you remove them and plant them in warm soil, which stimulates plant growth. This can be done up until February, which is the latest you should plant forced bulbs if you desire great results.
These velvety belles can even be grown hydroponically. Place a bulb on the top of a narrow-lipped, see-through vase filled with water for the roots. Ensure that the water level is just below the bottom of the bulb and not touching the base. Then watch as the flower spike and blooms develop.
What’s more, with garden-grown amaryllis, you can leave them year on year for continued seasonal growth, simply by looking after their needs. Keep the stems even after the flowers have died, and feed the soil with bulb food once a week until March, while also watering twice a week until the end of April. When you stop watering, the bulb will enter dormancy and will remain inactive during the cold winter months. Once all foliage has yellowed and wilted and no more photosynthesis can occur, you can choose to keep the bulbs in the soil or you may lift and store them in a cool, dry place until you replant them in spring.
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