You in all probability don’t must know this
Right here’s just a little trivia to share, nevertheless, it’d solely elicit a couple of murmurs of huh, okay, or how about that — in the event you’re fortunate. The one event when it is likely to be price repeating is when a dialog has stalled and is nearly past restoration. It’d assist if there’s an amaryllis useful, ideally in bloom, or at the least sprouting leaves.
It’s then you would pipe up and say, “Though we’d name them amaryllis, the proper identify is Hippeastrum, a genus of vegetation from South America.” Proper, you needn’t have bothered as a result of few give a hoot concerning the botanical nomenclature of vegetation. Botanists do, though they don’t at all times agree. They lengthy debated whether or not those we all know and love belong within the genus Hippeastrum, a gaggle of vegetation native to South America, or ought to they be classed as Amaryllis belladonna, a plant from southern Africa?
The argument went on till 1987 when the 14th Worldwide Botanical Congress determined our seasonal houseplant was certainly from the genus Hippeastrum. Thankfully, they agreed amaryllis can be a “conserved identify”, that means it was okay to proceed calling it what we at all times have executed.
Regardless, these vegetation that brighten our houses as days shorten are all the results of hybridisation of Hippeastrum species from Central and South America. They’re chosen and bred for flower measurement and ease of forcing in a stunning vary of colors that continues to broaden.
As for Amaryllis belladonna, the one which brought on all of the confusion, it’s a plant that you simply’d extra doubtless see rising outdoor. In additional temperate areas around the globe, it’s develop into naturalized. One of many frequent names for it’s bare women (not the autumn crocus), so named, not after the band, however as a result of the flowers bloom earlier than the leaves seem, like the autumn crocus. It might be grown in our gardens as a summer time flowering bulb, that’s if you will discover it.
I’m afraid my suggestion of a backyard plant you could’t simply purchase is about as helpful because the little bit of trivia, so again to our good previous amaryllis. You is likely to be unloading one with the groceries proper now as they’re at the moment being bought in all places. Should you additionally purchased a monster garlic or some type of unique root vegetable, be certain it’s the amaryllis that goes in a flowerpot, not the soup pot as a result of it’s considerably poisonous to people, however provided that you eat lots. Canines and cats, nevertheless, can develop into fairly sick in the event that they have been to chew on a bulb or eat the leaves.
Now that I’ve sorted out the plant that nobody was confused about till I introduced it up, right here’s learn how to look after it. Some come prepared planted with full directions, however in the event you’re beginning out with a naked (don’t point out bare) bulb, select a pot that’s barely bigger than the bulb, ideally a heavier one to keep away from tipping.
Do not bury the bulb utterly within the pot, simply two thirds to a few quarters deep leaving the shoulders uncovered. A selected potting soil isn’t vital. Place in a heat, sunny location and water sparingly at first as an excessive amount of may cause rotting. Step by step water extra because the leaves and flower bud seem and fertilize each couple of weeks. To extend blooming, transfer it to a nonetheless shiny however barely cooler location.
Pinch off the blooms as they fade however preserve the leaves rising for so long as doable to replenish the bulb. To get it to flower once more subsequent winter, sink the pot within the floor outdoor in spring. Reduce off the foliage after it dies again, then go away it’s till September.
Repot in contemporary soil, carry it indoors, repeat the method as above and you may look ahead to it blooming a second time — how about that, huh?
