Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) Update

I know I’m forcing the issue here but, as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, the bulbs we’ve all known for so many years as Amaryllis are actually called Hippeastrum.

So here is an update on how my Hippeastrum is doing! (After all, as a garden writer, I should probably be using the correct terms myself, right?)

This gorgeous flower is ‘Papilio’ and it’s the first time I’ve ever grown anything over than a red or red-and-white cultivar. Isn’t it absolutely stunning?

But there’s another thing I wanted to point out: do you see how there is a stake holding up the flower stalk? That’s something new I’m trying this year after a rather disastrous experience last year.

I was growing a HUGE bulb which in turn had a HUGE flower stalk. I got to enjoy it in all its glory for about 3 days. Then, one day, I came home to find the pot and plant in a heap on the floor. It turns out the stalk made the pot too top-heavy. And to make matters worse, the flower stalk broke up so badly, I couldn’t even rescue it to put into a vase.

Last fall, I noticed that Gardener’s Supply sells an adjustable stake specifically for these wonderful bulbs. It comes in several interlocking sections so you can make it as tall (up to 22-3/4″) or short as you need. You can click on the photo to the right to view a larger image. The stakes are made from brass and are inexpensive at just $6.95. If this appeals to you, I’d recommend ordering one ASAP as it might be a seasonal item.