Amaryllis Care
To produce healthy, flowering amaryllis, water plant sparingly until the leaves and flower begin to emerge from the bulb. After the flower bud has appeared, fertilize and increase water.
The showy horticultural forms are divided into three types: the early spring group, the bulbous group of spring and early summer, and the tall Oriental forms of late summer and fall.
The Early Spring Group: Anemone blanda, the bulbous Greek windflower, grows about four inches high with finely cut leaves and blue, pink or white daisy like flowers. They bloom in early spring and are excellent subjects for the rock garden or locations in light deciduous shade. Foliage disappears in early summer. Plant them in large colonies near other small spring bulbs like scilla and chionodoxa. Anemone Pulsatilla, the true pasque flower of Eurasia, has very silky hairs 3/4 to one inch long. Its flowers are blue to red purple, 11/2 to 21/2 inches across and bloom in early April. Many cultivars and varieties are known, including the white A. P. cv. ‘Alba’. This pulsatilla group thrives best in well- drained soil, or stony places in some shade.
To water a bulb too much after the growth starts may cause it to rot. A newly potted, dormant amaryllis should be kept fairly dry until signs of life begin to show, except for an initial watering to settle the soil around the bottom of the bulb. It should be watered sparingly by syringing the bulb itself until you are sure there are roots growing.
Florists use this group extensively indoors for late winter and early spring blooms. Home gardeners can easily force these anemones into winter bloom. When the corms are received, soak them overnight in room-temperature water, then plant them one inch deep and two inches apart in a good sandy loam in a bulb pan.
Planting is done in September or October. Place the pan in a dark place that never gets warmer than 55F. (12.78C.) until growth starts. Then move the plants to a cool. bright window and begin to water freely, feeding every two weeks with diluted fish emulsion or weak compost tea.
Full chrysanthemum: Anemone x. fulgens, the scarlet windflower, resembles a scarlet daisy having a black center. It can be forced like A. coronaria, the poppy-flowered anemone, has large flowers in red, white and indigo. Popular controlled varieties with single blooms include DeCaen, St. Brigid and Victoria Giant. Many double forms are also to be had in a variety of colors, although the scarlet ones are predominant. One cultivar known as Anemone coronaria cv. `Chrysanthemiflora’ is a seedling produced in 1848, looking much like a full chrysanthemum; Anemone x fulgens, the scarlet windflower, resembles a scarlet daisy having a black center. It can be forced like A. coronaria.
Full sunlight is best fat sturdiness, and a temperature between 55 60F. (12.78 and 15.56C.) is best. Tie bloom stem loosely to a stake to prevent is being broken. The blooms can be cut and us as cut flowers.
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