Why I Oughta...

Five weeks ago, we planted a pair of large, single amaryllis bulbs in small clay containers.  I covered both of them again two weeks ago  when they were showing their first signs of growth.  The first one was a Flamed Amadeus and the other one is named Shine Dream Amadeus .  I have watered both of them a few times since (soaking them, but with the loose soil, they drain very rapidly) and put them in a bright, warm spot (on a stone table that has a heat register underneath it).   Of the two, the Flamed Amadeus is moving more quickly.  Below is a photo showing the current state with an elongated flower bud tip (strangely) hasn't fully-emerged from the bulb.  It seems like the bud is super long: Looking back at the original post when we bought these bulbs , I just re-read the description of the Flamed Amadeus which reminded me why this flower bud is strangely large and long:  Flamed Amadeus "produces some of the largest blossoms in the Amaryll...

Yesterday, I posted the details of the first of our two Christmas Amaryllis bulbs - the Double Dream Amaryllis .  Today, are a few photos and some details of the second one named Exotic Star Amaryllis.  This one is also one of the 'larger', individual bulbs from Wannemaker's vs the ones you find in the 'kits' at big box stores.  History tells me that these *usually* do better than the kit bulbs.   NOTE:  Last year, I had a dud - a Samba Amaryllis never grew a flower stalk .   The Double Dream is named appropriately - as it is a 'double amaryllis' - with two layers of petals in the bloom. The Exotic Star is a 'single amaryllis' with one layer of petals.  This one stuck out - when looking at the boxes on the shelves.  (There are also something called 'Spider Amaryllis'.  I grew a variety named La Paz Amaryllis last season .  They're different, but quite striking.) Longfield Gardens describes the Exotic Star:   "The flo...