Hippeastrum.
Hippeastrum are grown for their large showy flowers. These plants are popularly but erroneously known as Amaryllis.
The Amaryllis Double 'Blossom Peacock', 'Hippeastrum', unfolds large, fully double blooms in delicate white with a pink fringe. Amaryllis are great for cut flowers and they also can be grown indoors. This plant is resistant to deer. Of all flowering bu
The Single Amaryllis 'Prelude', Amaryllis (Hippeastrum ) 'Prelude', has rounded petals of scarlet red with a pure white center and edges. Holland's finest strain produces more huge flowers per bulb than any other strain. The spectacular breath-taking
The Single Amaryllis 'San Remo', Amaryllis (Hippeastrum ) 'San Remo', has pale pink petals that have mid-ribs and edges flushed with deep raspberry. Holland's finest strain produces more huge flowers per bulb than any other strain. The spectacular br
Hippeastrum is a popular bulb flower for indoor growing. The very large, decorative flowers can also be grown outside in temperate areas. In general only a large bulb will put up more than one flower scape or spike but this depends on the cultivar itself; some smaller bulbs have two while some larger bulbs make only one. A bulb must produce at least four large, healthy leaves in the summer growing season before it can send up a scape the following year. Some bulbs put up two flower scapes at the same time; others may wait several weeks between blooms and sometimes the second scape will have only two or three flowers rather than the usual four.
The flower colors include red, rose, pink, white, orange, yellow, and pale green with variations on these including different colored stripes and edges on the petals. Some flowers have uniform colors or patterns on all six petals while others have more pronounced colors on the upper petals than on the lower ones.
There are five types: 1) single flower; 2) double flower; 3) miniature; 4) cybister; and 5) trumpet. Cybisters have extremely thin petals and are often described as spider-like. Trumpets, as the name suggests, have flared, tube-shaped flowers.
Bulbs should be firm to the touch and greenish-white with thin brown outer layers like an onion. Nearly all bulbs for sale will be healthy but watch for and reject any that are soft, have blue or greenish mold, look decayed or appear to be extremely dried out or in a state of desiccation. Sometimes bulbs will already have a flower spike or leaves.
Pick a pot with open drain holes that is 10–15 cm (4–6″) wider than the bulb. Soak the bottom of the bulb with the roots in warm (not hot) water — this will make them pliable and easier to spread out in the pot. Position the bulb so the top third is above the soil line. Use any good commercial potting soil and, if desired, top it off with a light covering of orchid mix or sphagnum moss as mulch.
Put the bulb where it will get some sun everyday and water it once. Care should be taken not to over-water: after the first watering do not water again until growth is visible or the soil has become bone dry, and then water sparingly. Too much water will cause the bulb and its roots to rot — at this stage the bulb is not capable of absorbing much water. Watering can be increased to weekly after a 20 cm (8″) flower spike with bud or two 25 cm (10″) leaves have appeared. Do not feed the bulb while it is blooming.
Most new Hippeastrums take between two weeks and three months to bloom after they have been potted. They may wait a few weeks or months and then rebloom, or they may be finished for the year.
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