Posted by Kathy on 10/10/2001, 6:39 pm
I always dig my bulbs up after the first frost - that way I know the foliage is dead and no more "juices" are sucked back into the bulb. You can brush the dirt off the bulb and place in a cool, dry, somewhat-protected-from-light place. I like to use a mesh bag or a leg of a pair of panythose to store my bulbs; this allows for air circulation. Prior to placing in the bag, though, I spread my bulbs out on a piece of newspaper in the garage to allow them to dry out a bit - about a few days. When dry, I hang them on the wall in the garage - not too many in a bag, and on the wall to keep the mice out. For your Amarylis, as well as other bulbs, you can force it to bloom indoors, during the winter. Here's how: For Amaryllis, dig the bulb out of the ground, gently remove the spent foliage, plant in a 5-7 inch pot leaving the upper third of the bulb exposed. Amaryllis does not need a cold period in order to bloom indoors. Water the bulb well when first "re-planted" in the pot, and then water sparingly for about 10 days. At this time, new roots should be produced. Keep the bulb out of direct sunlight. When the leaves have started growing, fertilize once a month with a balanced fertilizer. For other bulbs, dig out of the garden in the fall (right about now is a good time to do so), gently remove the spent foliage and plant the bulb in a pot, filled with good crumbly soil, leaving about 1.5 inches between the bulbs. The tips of the bulb should be exposed. Thoroughly but gently water the bulbs. Now the bulbs are ready for several weeks of darkness and cold storage - this is the important part for bulbs weather they are forced into blooming indoors or growing naturally outside; this allows new roots to form. Cover the pot completely to block out the light and place in the refrigerator. It takes about 8-12 weeks for the roots to form, and the pot should be kept moist, but not wet. After about 12 weeks, or if you see greenery sooner, take the bulb out of the refrigerator and place the pot in a bright - not in direct sun - location. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Good luck!
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