Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Amaryllis and Paperwhites

Each and every fall for many years I have grown amaryllis and paperwhites for the holidays.  They are very easy to grow in a good potting soil. I am really a fan of the Christmas Amaryllis because it blooms in four to six weeks rather than the eight to twelve of the regular amaryllis.

Rock 'n Roll Amaryllis


Merry Christmas Amaryllis

Razzle Dazzle Amaryllis


Paperwhite Ziva

There are double and single Christmas Amaryllis and I find that the red twig dogwood stems sold in many nurseries around the holidays are great for holding up the stems of both the amaryllis and the paperwhites.

It is time to order both bulbs now and keep them in a cool place until ready to plant.  http://www.johnscheepers.com/ or http://www.vanengelen.com/  I better get going as I have already ordered my spring bulbs but not my holiday bulbs!

12 comments:

Karen said...

Hi Eileen, Lovely amaryllis bulbs! I was given a bulb once, but didn't know what to do with it after it was done blooming. Is there a dormancy period, or chilling or is it a one-time plant? (I could look the answer up, but I'm curious as to your experience.) Thank you!

meemsnyc said...

I grow these also every year. Love these bulbs!

Anonymous said...

Dear Eileen, Your posting is a very timely reminder to order bulbs and, particularly, as you have shown here, for indoor display. I shall go and do it right now!!

The Paperwhite are glorious both to look at and to fill the house with their lovely scent.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Karen, I am not a great one for keeping the bulbs, but it is not difficult.

Just let it make leaves for awhile after flowering until they begin to yellow (cut back to 2 inches) then let dry out and start watering again the following October (or six to eight weeks later).

Eieen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Meemsync, I say each year I am not going to spend the money on them, but I miss the garden fowers so much I usually give in.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Ediith, they are always so beautiful I can't resist. I have tried everything to keep them from flopping and found the twigs are the best solution.

Eileen

Anonymous said...

Eileen your Amaryllis are beautiful. Bob just told me I need to get him some potting soil so he can take care of 'his' Amaryllis - that it was time. Funny how much he loved the one I bought this year (haven't had one in years) and he's sort of adopted it. LOL

Lona said...

Hi Eileen. Your Amaryllis are just so pretty. Mine are in the basement waiting to see the light LOL! Bring out the amaryllis and put the poinsettia in the dark next month. I have to admit I cannot stand the smell of Paperwhites in the house though and I think they are so pretty.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Hi Rain Gardener, I wish those were mine, but they are borrowed from the catalog from which I order. I am going to order the Christmas one and of course some paperwhites.

Eileen

Gatsbys Gardens said...

You are so good Lona, I am very bad at keeping my amaryllis. They are so expensive I should be ashamed. This year I promise to keep them and store them somewhere, always looking for space.

Eileen

Gloria Bonde said...

Hi Eileen, I just got a chance to catch up with some of your posts. I love them! The nepeta looks beautiful - now that is a fantastic xeric garden you have there. And the Frank Lloyd Wright house was wonderful. Our house is a bungalow. I love the details of a bungalow. But I think ours was the economy version of it's time. The kitchen was so small we added on and also did an addition upstairs. After all my gardening here, I do not desire to move and start again. It works for Ted and I

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Thanks Gloria, it is hard to believe you are a cooler climate and still in the 90's. We are going to be in the 60's next week. Yikes, I had better get busy.

Eileen