The two showiest flowers midwinter flowers – poinsettias and amaryllis – can be frustrating for the home gardener. They look great the year you buy them. Getting a repeat performance the next year takes some extra care.To get these plants to flower again in 2008 you need to provide conditions that mimic their natural habitat. For poinsettias, this means giving them sunny but short days of only 9-10 hours for 10 weeks. This mimics the conditions normally found in Mexico in autumn – days growing shorter and the bright sun of the topics. (see http://www.pauleckepoinsettias.com/html/point_fset.html for more information)
Amaryllis are also from the tropics. They don’t create flowers in response to short days but in response to an annual dry period. They’re tropical plants, so the dry period needs to be relatively warm, not as cold as needed for forcing daffodils and tulips.
To get your amaryllis to flower in 2008, begin by cutting off the flower stalk at the base after the flowers have faded. Put the plant in a bright spot and keep it watered through summer. Fertilize with dilute water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks. If you like, you can put your amaryllis outdoors once the weather warms. Toward the end of summer, the leaves may begin to yellow. This is your sign to reduce watering drastically and let the leaves die away. If the leaves don’t start to die back on their own, reduce watering by the beginning of September. After the leaves have faded, the bulbs need to be dry and slightly cool for 8 weeks. You can leave the bulb in the pot. Try to keep it at about 55-60 degrees F and don’t water. After 8 weeks, bring the potted bulb to a slightly warmer room and water sparingly until you see new growth. You should have open flowers in 5-6 weeks.
