Hippeastrum Care

Hippeastrum that were in flower over Christmas will have gone past their best now, especially if they have been kept in a warm room. Rather than throw the bulb away I keep them to flower again next year. When the flowers have faded, cut off the thick flower stalk at bulb level. The foliage should be allowed to develop and grow over the spring and summer, and to encourage the bulb to swell keep the compost moist at all times and feed weekly with a liquid feed such as Phostrogen. Only when the leaves naturally start to die down in summer should you stop watering and allow the bulb to dry out. By then it will be plump and contain embryo flower buds for next spring. We'll also look at hyacinths and how to get the to flower in the garden next year.

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[zahrawm]

Thank you very much Hoggywart! Really helpful.

[kleenex3000]

Actually, cutting off the stalk offers no advantage. Even if several seed pods will be formed during the following weeks (nice to observe) this will not and at least not perceivably exhaust the bulb respectively. Enough light (place the pot on your best window-sill) and regular feedings (for example 0.3 g/L fertilizer salts EVERY watering) and administering the water from below are the keys for successfully rebuilding the exhausted bulb. And, replant into a bigger container (3 L).