Hippeastrum amaryllidaceae; are not to be confused with Amaryllis, although they belong to the same family, they are quite different plants.
The differences can be seen as; Hippeastrum having overlapping petals where Amaryllis have trumpet shaped flowers.
The Hippeastrum bulb has a perfect embryo flower already formed meaning, all that is needed in the first year is; pot the bulb up care for it until it flowers.
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Bulbs planted in September or October will flower from February onwards, depending on the temperature at which they are grown.
Bulbs can be planted from October until late April, and will commence flowering 6-10 weeks after it is planted.
When the flower stalk is fully developed it can be up to 500mm (18") tall and topped with up to four 150mm (6") flowers in a variety of colours.
These flowers can last for two to three weeks.
Some of the extra large bulbs may produce two flower stems, one following the other.
When bulbs come into bud they should be given a well-lit position, and watered when the surface of the pot feels dry.
Keep them cool to prolong display and tie to a split cane if flower stem grows tall.
Normal room temperatures of up to 18°C (65°F) but no higher will encourage fast growth and bring hippeastrums into early bloom.
Too much heat will shorten the life of the flowers.
Cultivation;
Plant up bulbs of the winter and spring flowering group, singly, into 200mm (8") pots of moist purpose made 'bulb compost' or proprietary potting compost circa Week 35
Half bury the bulbs leaving the neck and shoulders clear of the potting mixture.
Grow on at a minimum temperature of 16°C (60°F)
Give little water until signs of growth appear, then water more freely.
Feed weekly with a balanced liquid fertiliser up until the leaves die back
Bulbs planted in September or October will flower from February onwards, depending on the temperature at which they are grown.
Plant up bulbs of the summer and autumn-flowering group, singly, into 200mm (8") pots of moist purpose made 'bulb compost' or proprietary potting compost circa Week 10;
Half bury the bulbs leaving the neck and shoulders clear of the potting mixture.
Grow on at a minimum temperature of 16°C (60°F)
Give little water until signs of growth appear, then water more freely.
Feed weekly with a balanced liquid fertiliser up until the leaves die back.
Watering;
Water newly potted bulbs sparingly, just enough to keep the potting mixture moist.
When new growth appears and roots have developed increase watering slightly, letting the top half of the mixture dry out between waterings.
When in full growth keep the potting mixture constantly moist.
Dormancy;
Allow the plants to die back naturally, to ensure the formation of the embryo bud for the following season.
Rest the bulbs of both groups in a cool dark place for at least thee months before watering and restarting growth.
Hippeastrums, dislike root disturbance and flower best when left alone.
Re-potting each year is unnecessary, that is; they only need re-potting if they have been in the same compost for about five years or are badly overcrowded.
At normal potting up times it will suffice to tease away the top 40-50mm (1½"-2") of old compost from established plants and replace with new compost.
If re-potting completely; carefully remove the bulb and shake off the old potting mixture and replant.
Propagation;
Small bulblets that have been produced around the base of the parent plant can be detached when they are about an 25-38mm (1"-1½") diameter.
Keep as much root as possible attached to them.
These immature bulbs can be treated them in the same manner as a mature bulb in terms of feeding and watering etc.
They should be potted up in succeeding years until they reach flowering size i.e. 70-80mm (3"-3½")diameter.
Hippeastrum can also be grown from seed.
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