amaryllis

I brought amaryllis plants out of storage 3-4weeks ago I watered them and put them on the window sill they started to sprout but now have gone very leggy with no sign of any flower they were all good last year what is my problem please

 

Nathan,which part has gone leggy?When you bring them out of storage,I usually replace some of the old compost,or all of it if it doesn't look too good making sure that only half the bulb sits in the pot.

If the flower spike has started to rise out of the centre of the bulb then it should carry on growing until it is possibly 12" high which is their normal growth.When they have got to their right height,then the flower bud should start to open to reveal the trumpet shaped flower.

You will probably need to use a strong cane slightly less taller than the actual trumpet and tie the flower spike to the cane.Be careful not to tie it too tight.

I would start feeding it as the leaves if you get any and the flower spikes start to fade with a tomatoe fertiliser so that the bulb can build up ready for flowering next year after it has rested.

If you can post a photo then that would be a great help.Good Luck with it

 

[ 02. February 2008, 04:32 PM: Message edited by: Daisees ]

 

sorry, nathan - tried to fix your image but it wouldn't work. You'll have to try again

 

this is the second stem of flowers

 

now what do i do with it now

 

Hi Kathy,I hope you don't mind me saying but your pot looks a bit small for the plant as you have a root sticking out of the top of the pot. :eek:

What you need to do now is gently tap it out of the pot and put the whole lot in a pot one size bigger than the pot it is in so that it straightens up.I should keep feeding it every week or so with tomato fertiliser,then when it starts to die back,stop the watering and feeding and put the pot with the bulb somwhere where you won't forget it,to give it a rest.After a couple of months check the pot and then depending whether there is any growth starting you can start the process all over again.

The colour you have looks like 'Red Lion' the same as one of mine.Let me know how you get on.

 

thanks Kandy
the reason its poor wee roots are sticking out
is because i had just lifted it out.
is it better to keep it quite pot bound?
as they all seem to come in tiny pots.
that was the reason i cut it off ,it kept falling over,never had one before,but they are lovely.thanks for your help

 

Kathy they are better not grown pot bound this is only done to force it to flower, if it is repotted and allowed to continue growing with regular feeding it will recharge the bulb and probably produce offsets, you can then keep growing it untill it next flowers the resting period is introduced for the conveniance of programming the reflowering period it is not necessary for the good of the bulb.

 

Kathy what Walnut says is sound advice,though I would say in future if you get any more flowers the best thing to do is to use a bamboo cane and gently tie it too the flower stem.It should then stay upright and you won't need to cut them off.You can also pollinate the flowers and then sow the flat black seeds to get some more bulbs but they take about three years to reach flowering size and it is too late for yours this year

 

thanks Walnut and Kandyfloss
thats great advice,want to keep it properly
when repotting,do i use a bulb fibre or compost
thanks again Kathy

 

Multipurpose is fine Kathy.

 

Ditto :D :D

 

thanks you guys will let you know how i get on

 

I have trimmed the leaves down and moved them more into the light I will just have to see what happens I dont think I will lose them do you