Please excuse the double posting. I couldn't add words after uploading the photos. The pictures say it all. Why is this amaryllis so tall? Is it insufficient light? Any suggestions for next year? These are bulbs from last year and they did not grow tall like this. BTW, the black blob in the third photo is my leg. I was trying to include it as a measuring stick. I really should have just gotten a tape measure & saved myself some bizarre contorting!
probably not enough light. they stretch seeking more. it is beautiful, though! You might want to place a dowel rod ( or even a small tree branch like an apple sucker, which would look better but be careful to not scratch the stem with it) inside the basket and tie it to the handle and then stake the stalk to the dowel rod. it looks like an accident waiting to happen if someone or an animal bumps it.
I had one HUGE bulb this year called "Superstar" and he grew with lots of light 42" high. I don't have a picture of his total height but each bud produced 6 flowers too.
Wow Island Life! That is amazing! Good tip Carolyn. I have it tied to the handle of the basket, but it probably needs something more substantial.
I did not know that controlling the height was such a problem with commercial growers. Just said when they grow too fast,, they can get abnormally tall. I would try to control next year by less direct light. Maybe shorter time in the window to start with ect.
Mine even now - 4 months later is just starting to throw up leaves. You could almost watch him grow the flower stalks but the leaves are painstakingly slow and I really want to try and keep this guy so am hoping he'll continue to grow and develop.
@carolyn you made the right call. While trying to adjust the stake, I snapped the flower stalk. Beautiful nonetheless, huh? And you know what? It bloomed in that bottle for weeks & weeks!
well, thats too bad but at least you got to enjoy it for a few more weeks. here is the monster in my greenhouse.
Well, the colour of that Amaryllis doesn't seem to have lessened with its change of venue. It is a lovely thing. Sorry that it broke, but it is none the less for wear, right? BTW the colour of your walls is really quite nice. Where did you get that little statue? That looks Middle-American. Carolyn, your greenhouse monster is going great guns. He may be a bully, but he's an attractive bully.
SJ, that's what I thought! I plan to plunge my amaryllis's in the ground this summer. Hopefully a dose of sun & warmth will be good for them. You like my jolly little guy? He is one of a set of four. They all carry musical instruments. I of course have outfitted them with miniature gardening tools. They spend the summer outside, supervising things, and winter indoors.
I sure do....and what a good thought to add garden tools instead of musical instruments. I have a mate that has a shop in town and he used to sell little chaps like that. I do not recall where they were from though. Did your little guys come arranged in a circle? Yeah...what a good idea-- a bit different from garden gnomes, what!
