EXPERT TIPS… CARING FOR HIPPEASTRUM BULBS

Mick Lavelle, gardening expert and senior lecturer in horticulture at Writtle University College, offers seasonal advice

October is the time of year when the large bulbs of hippeastrums appear in nurseries and garden centres. Often incorrectly called amaryllis, they are easy to grow and – given the right aftercare – will continue to perform for years to come.

Get GOING

In most cases, hippeastrum bulbs come as part of a ‘complete set’, including the pot and growing media. If you have just bought the bulb, though, use either John Innes No.2 or multipurpose compost. The pot should be just a little larger than the diameter of the bulb. Don’t bury the bulb – two-thirds of it should remain above the surface. Pot It Once potted, put it in a well-lit spot that ideally maintains a daytime temperature of around 21°C (70°F) and doesn’t dip below 16°C at night. Water sparingly until the new leaves develop, and from then on, do so more regularly, aiming to keep the compost moist but not wet. Turning the pot regularly prevents the emerging flower stalk leaning towards the light. Bulbs should flower about six to eight weeks after planting, and can be planted from October right through until January.

Keep on caring

After flowering, cut down spent flower spikes to the base, but keep the leaves. Continue watering and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser weekly. The whole pot can be kept outside or in the greenhouse during the summer months, but during September, bring it inside again and let the plant gradually dry out. Cut back any yellowed leaves and place the pot in a cool place such as a shed or garage (light is not necessary at this stage) for one to two months.

Next October you can start it back into growth in exactly the same way that you did when it was newly potted.