Amaryllis

[roseycheeks]

how do I give them more light, the windowsill is too cold for them

[ButterflyLady29]

You'll need to set up a better lighting source. Can you hang a 2 or 4 tube shop light fixture over the plants or set up a shelf that you can hang the light on and set the plants underneath?

[roseycheeks]

I am not sure if I can, I don't have much room where they are. I will see what my hubby and I can do. We rent so we really can't do much about adding a shelf to the wall. We got a couple of long lights at a neighbor's garage sale last summer, I may see if he can change the smaller light for one of them.

[ButterflyLady29]

Sorry, I meant shelf like one of those wire rack shelving units. They really make wonderful plant stands. And even better, they can be set up any place where there is room for the unit.

[imafan26]

You could use a goose neck lamp if there is space for it.

[roseycheeks]

I have a question, my amaryllis is growing very long leaves, does that mean they will bloom again sometime this winter? I don't know whether they will die down again or not. I was thinking of letting them bloom on their own schedule, and not try to force them for Christmas. I read that they do not need a dormant period, is that true? Tomorrow I will take a picture of another one that is starting to regrow. I can't tell if it is leaves or scape.

[ButterflyLady29]

They might bloom again, they might not, usually not. I've had a few that send up a surprise flower stalk later in the season but those have been pretty rare and from really big bulbs. When the weather warms and no more frost is in the forecast I set mine in pots outside in a mostly sunny area. If you have potted them using just the pellet that came with the kit, that is a good time to fertilize the bulbs. Make sure the pot has drain holes, if it doesn't the bulb will have to be repotted. Use regular potting mix if repotting. Then leave the plants outside until the leaves dry up or late September. Water as needed. If the leaves haven't dried up they should be removed when you move the plant inside. Set in a cool place until they start to grow again.

As for the rest period, I have not tried to keep mine going except for the Papillon which doesn't need a rest period. It's just easier to store dormant bulbs in my basement.

[roseycheeks]

Going to have to get rid of 6 plants, the amaryllis has red blotch and one of them has some kind of a worm, the Coleus are not doing well at all, I have to get rid of two more because they are dying. I think it is because of the pellet stove, this house has a lot of air leaks and it is hard to get the temperature right for them. Also my frosted fern died, it is like touching a sponge that has lost its water. That will leave me with the Draceana Warneckii, three poinsettias, 3 more amaryllis, spider plant, snake plant and a couple that my neighbor wanted me to take care of while he is in Florida(lucky cuss).

[applestar]

That's too bad roseycheeks.
Sometimes, gardening -- indoors or out -- is just a series of trial and error. That's why you might see me going on and on about the successes. (I probably should post more about the failures too, because those are also learning experiences. )

It's almost time to start coleus from seeds. I never tried to keep them alive over the winter when I grew them. Back then, I took "them" at their word, when they said to "annual/treat as an annual". Are there any stems that are still looking strong enough to take cuttings and root?

[roseycheeks]

No, I have enough seeds so I will regrow some, although not as many as last year. I think the amaryllis has had it, the leaves are dying and falling over. I probably just sealed their death warrant, I cut the leaves off of the ones that were dying, I think I will throw them out, I still have the baby and two others. One looks like it is going to be leaves again, and one looks like it is trying to grow a scape, it looks very different from the leaves. My frosty fern is dried but I am going to try to revive it although I don't know if that is possible. My newest plant is doing very well, although I wish it had a easier name that Dracaena Warneckii.

[imafan26]

If te bulbs are still firm, cut off the leaves and repot them. They do not need a dormant period but they do like to be lifted every couple of years. Mine only bloom once a year but only the larger bulbs. If I leave the smaller bulbs too close and crowded, not only will they not get very big, it can stop the larger ones from blooming. After I lift , separate and fertilize them, sometimes I get an unexpected bloom about 6 weeks later.

[roseycheeks]

Thanks imafan26, I will try that this weekend, it would be nice if they bloomed whenever they wanted to. I thought for sure that they were too far gone. But if I can coax them to bloom again it will please me to no end! I will let the poinsettias bloom whenever they want to, The frosty fern I don't know what to do with it, I watered it until the water ran out of the holes and put it under the grow light, when do you think I will see anything with the baby amaryllis? I keep watering it but have not seen anything, do you think I will see anything this year?

]

[applestar]

"Frosty Fern" seems to be a new name for Selaginella. I'm used to thinking of them as a terrarium plant (likes a lot of humidity).

Logee's has had them in their catalog listing forever (since the 80's) and this is their care sheet for them and I've quoted an excerpt of the blurb about watering:

http://www.logees.com/media/care/pdf/Selaginella.pdf

Keep them evenly moist. When watering, thoroughly saturate the soil until a little water runs out of the bottom of the pot. Do not dry them out or repot them after they have been under drought stress as this can kill or damage them.

[roseycheeks]

I just repotted 3 amaryllis and they have fat white roots. I don't know if I should repot the baby amaryllis or not, it is not doing anything, maybe I should just leave it alone. I watered them to get them started and now I will leave them alone, should I fertilize them now or later?

[roseycheeks]

I have one amaryllis that I am sure has a flower stalk and I think a leaf is coming up on the other side! I am not going to get too excited, but that is what it looks like, when they come up a little better I will try to take a picture of it. I can't think of what else it could be.