Hippeastrum 'Minerva'

[John M]

I've had this plant forever, it seems. It grew into a huge specimen and filled a 12" pot with bulbs. Last year it needed repotting and as I did that, I divided it into individual bulbs and planted them in their own pots. This is the first of about a dozen bulbs to come into bloom. It's in a 5" pot with 2 flowers over 8" across and one bud. The flowers are so BIG and HEAVY! This plant usally makes big flowers, even though I can never get the bulbs to grow big. I wish I could figure out how to really bulk up the bulbs......in the hopes of getting some 10" blooms? That would be cool!

 

[goldenrose]

that would be cool, in a way I'm jealous but that's all I need is another addiion to another type of plant!
BTW, I'd be thrilled if I could keep them alive & come back after their 'rest'.

 

[abax]

John, are you sure this is Hippeastrum? It looks like an Amy. to me. Is the
stem solid or hollow? It is beautiful.

 

[John M]

Angela, the stems is hollow. The Taxonomy of these plants has been confused over the past couple centuries. True Amaryllis are only from South Africa. There are only 2 species in the genus. The ornamental, winter flowering "Amaryllis" that we see for sale as flowering-bulb house plants are bred from the 90 or so South American Hippeastrum species. Here's a good, detailed explanation for both:

http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippeastrum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaryllis

Does that help?

 

[Ozpaph]

I love Hippi's. They grow with no attention from me in our garden. Yours is very nice.

 

[NYEric]

to bulk up add fertilizer??

 

[Erythrone]

A very nice one! I had a large collection of Hippeastrums a few years ago!! But I chose orchids...

 

[John M]

Thanks everyone!

Eric, I do feed the Hippeastrums the same as my orchids; plus, I add time release fertilizer to the pots twice each growing season. Someone suggested that I try bone meal. I haven't used that in the past; so, it's worth a try this year. In the fall, I hope I've got some massive bulbs, as a result!