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Just like Jack's beanstalk!

39 comments


Only this isn’t a beanstalk, it’s one of my Amaryllis – a ‘Hippeastrum’, to be strictly correct!

I thought I’d find out how fast it grew and came into flower.

Here it is on 6th January – just beginning to grow.

6th January

11th January

13th January

15th January

19th January

22nd January

30th January – the buds are opening!

2nd February – getting there!

3rd February – flowers opening

4th February – on its way!

Today!!

So it took one day short of a month to be in full bloom. Not bad in comparison with Jack’s beanstalk, was it?

Amaryllis ‘Illusion’

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Comments

 

this is brilliant. I bought 2, 2 weeks ago for work. I have been measuring their growth on average 5mm during the day and 16mm over night. so nearly an inch a day. bud is nearly open too.

this one is a beauty spritz. waiting to see if mine live up to the claims on the boxes !

5 Feb, 2010

 

Brilliant bloom, I am so envious, I bought one already potted up in a "sale", it grew about 6" and then withered away. BOO HOO :o(

5 Feb, 2010

 

ooh valadel. that is such a shame.

5 Feb, 2010

 

I know, there wasn't a drainage hole and when i took out the bulb it had rotted. !

5 Feb, 2010

 

Oh no! What a pity - and such a waste of a beautiful bulb!

5 Feb, 2010

 

This is good fun isnt it! What a lovely colour.

I took four into the nursing home for my mother - its always a problem to find things for her windowsill as it is above a radiator and faces south.

These were gift wrapped for Xmas from TM and grew very fast - they looked good for a couple of weeks but are now drying off in the greenhouse. I took a huge one in today again so will take some pics of that!

5 Feb, 2010

 

dont they grow fast barbara, im amazed how tall and fast mine have grown, except one which doesnt seem to want to start lol, i may feed it and see :o))

5 Feb, 2010

 

Can you keep the bulbs from year to year Spritz ?

5 Feb, 2010

 

Amazing, will have a go next year perhaps.....

6 Feb, 2010

 

Yes, Valadel - I do try to, but with mixed success.

Sandra - try moving it to a warmer place until it starts!

6 Feb, 2010

 

thanks for the journey, plants are just amazing aren't they.

6 Feb, 2010

 

Yes, they are - I was amazed at the speed of growth - I could almost watch it grow!

6 Feb, 2010

 

Love the timeline idea and the plant :~))
I am growing one for the first time and it has just started splitting open so hopefully in a few days, fingers crossed, there will be flowers. Don't know the colour so it will be a surprise.
It almost didn't see the light of day as it was a pressie I had forgotten I had :~)

6 Feb, 2010

 

Did yours take off like a rocket as well, Pip?? I shall look forward to seeing it...very soon....:-))

6 Feb, 2010

 

They are fascinating plants and fabulous flowers aren't they? Ours has flowered for several months now.It's the first time we have grown one from a bulb, and hopefully when the flowering period ends we can save it for next year, dry it, and try again.Our bulb was in a general sale so we are not aware of the name of the flower.Will post up a photo Spritz.

6 Feb, 2010

 

I took mine out of the box around the same time as yours started and it grew 4 leaves first. They are between the 2 stalks. Maybe that's why mine is a bit behind yours.with the energy going into leaf production.. Though when the stalks appeared yes they did shoot up fast.
I can take photos again now that I have rcovered my camera from my daughter LoL :~)):

6 Feb, 2010

 

You must be keeping it nice and cool, then, Grenville - the flowers fade rapidly in a warm room. I'd love to see your photo, and Pip's too. :-)

I have found that it's worth buying the biggest bulb possible, as they do send up two stems. However, in following years, I only get one. I think I need to feed them more!

6 Feb, 2010

 

I take it that's the secret to keeping it flowering -- cool.
I put mine in a south facing window as I very rarely have the heating on so my house is always cool and I assumed it would want heat !!

6 Feb, 2010

 

They do really well dont they in a short space of time looks lovely.

6 Feb, 2010

 

Yes Spritz- we keep it in the dining room where it tends to be slightly cooler than other rooms in the house, as we were advised to keep it in cooler conditions to encourage a longer flowering period.

We have now added some photos and a Blog with some growing advice, as we are now well and truly hooked on them. This has been our first attempt at raising them, and our tiny, cheap, bulb has rewarded us well with so many flowers since before Christmas, and its still flowering! They always say buy nice, firm, plump bulbs for any flowering varieties- ours was the total opposite, and we thought it wouldnt even flower. It must be a determined little soul...

We are now paid up members of The Amarylis Appreciation Society lol !!!!

6 Feb, 2010

 

isnt it great to watch them grow..... i had one , a present for christmas..... its about 8 inchs at hte moment..... i thoght the stems came first, but mine ihas leaves first ... funny ......no sign of a stem yet.....

6 Feb, 2010

 

Your bulb, and Grenville's are probably A. 'Papilio'. I had one last year, and the blooms were indeed like butterflies - the leaves came first, from a much smaller bulb.

6 Feb, 2010

 

Thanks for this info Barbara.
Yes the petals on ours are 'paper thin' and rather butterfly - like.

Overall, each flower is quite large but our bulb is very small. The flowers do not look as robust as some varieties of Amarylis. Let's hope we can keep it for repotting after it has finished flowering.

6 Feb, 2010

 

Excellent Spritz, a bean stalk if ever I saw one. Mind you, a much prettier one if that! ;o)

Sandra x

6 Feb, 2010

 

Thanks Spritz...... i keep looking for the buds ...... : O ))

7 Feb, 2010

 

lovely flowers. did not grow any this year.so nice to see yours

7 Feb, 2010

 

Its Gorgeous Spritz :)

8 Feb, 2010

 

I'm waiting, impatiently, for my seedlings to flower! They have been growing during the past 4 years & quite a few of the bulbs look to be of flowering size. See my blog on Amaryllis. I'll post some photos when they eventually flower.

SH, your idea of taking photos every couple of days is similar to what I do, only I take them just of the flowers, not the stalk & bud as they develop.Nevertheless, you have given me an idea! Thanks! :-)

14 Feb, 2010

 

You're very welcome - I will take a look! I think you must be very patient - four years? Wow!

14 Feb, 2010

 

I just hope the wait has been worth it!

15 Feb, 2010

 

Oh, I'm sure it will be. :-)))

15 Feb, 2010

 

Oooooh I want one of these too...going to look at Kensington blog now:-)

20 Feb, 2010

 

You'll have to wait until the autumn now - that's when you can buy them, Ba!

20 Feb, 2010

 

Too late.... the story of my life :-( I'll have one next year:-)))

20 Feb, 2010

 

When you buy bulbs - that's when they'll be around, all over the place from DIY stores, supermarkets, catalogues and Garden Centres!

20 Feb, 2010

 

It's almost an instant flower isn't it, I have seen them before, but in an old incarnation, was not too keen. Now I've changed my mind and love them:-)

20 Feb, 2010

 

And why not? :-)))

20 Feb, 2010

 

Just yesterday I got an email from the Amaryllis people in the USA. :-) I also found the catalogue I'd put in a "safe place"! The company is called The Amaryllis Bulb Company.

Their webpage is: http://www.amaryllis.com if anybody would like to visit it. They have some magnificent flowers on there!

25 Feb, 2010

 

Thanks, Balcony - will do. :-)

25 Feb, 2010

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