Out & About January 2018

OA gardening

Is this the way to Amaryllis? The Amaryllis houseplant adds a touch of glamour to your décor and comes in a range of strong and vibrant

colours as well as tints with a hint S tylish and sensual Amaryllis (also known as Hippeastrum ) is available in many varieties and rich earthy colours. This houseplant’s big feature is its changing appearance. A stately hollow stem emerges from a bulb on which smooth buds develop. Those open into voluminous calyxes with velvety petals in white, salmon, red, pink or even green. The flowers can reach a diameter of 20cm. This is very spectacular, particularly because you do not expect such a lavish display from such a sleek stem, especially not in the winter months. ORIGIN Amaryllis is a member of the Narcissus family, with more than 70 species. It’s native to the (sub) tropical regions of Mexico and the Caribbean, through to northern Argentina. The first plants probably developed in Brazil and were first cultivated in Europe in around 1800. What to look for when buying Amaryllis n Look at the colour and the flower shape, which will emerge from the bulbs. The larger the bulb, the more (hollow) stems emerge from it, sometimes up to 3-4 stems per pot. Every stem produces three or four conical flowers. The less ripe the plant is, the trickier it is to see how many buds will form, but the buds are usually fairly well-developed in the supply phase. n Check that the bulb is well rooted and not too loose in the pot. A green tip must already be visible on the bulb when purchasing. n Check that there is no mould on the bulb or the soil – a sign that the plant has been too damp. n The bulb and stems can be affected by ‘red blotch’ (red stripes on the stem), but this does not detract from the lifespan. n Amaryllis can easily be stored cool, even in a chiller. The ideal storage temperature is 5-8°C. However, do this for as little time as possible, because the plant can quickly suffer from too little light, causing the buds to dry out.

If the plant is stored too warm, it will ripen more quickly, reducing the saleability. CHOICE OF RANGE The Amaryllis range is very broad. Alongside main colours such as red, pink and white, new colours are constantly being added, like salmon, lilac, green, orange and bicoloured varieties with stripes or edges. There are also varieties with single and double flowers. Bulbs with a wax or felt coating that the consumer doesn’t have to do anything to are very popular. Cultivating this plant requires patience: it takes a few weeks for a bulb to start growing. An Amaryllis in a pot develops slightly faster. HOWTO IDENTIFY THE VARIOUS CULTIVARS: Galaxy Group single-flowered, flower diameter larger than 16cm Diamond Group single-flowered, flower diameter 12-16cm Colibri Group single-flowered, flower diameter less than 12cm Double Galaxy Group double-flowered, flower diameter larger than 16cm Double Diamond Group double-flowered, flower diameter 12-16cm Double Colibri Group double-flowered, flower diameter less than 12cm Spider Group single-flowered, little or no overlap of bracts Butterfly Group single-flowered, slightly oval Trumpet Group single-flowered, long trumpet- shaped flowers CARE TIPS FOR CONSUMERS n Amaryllis can tolerate both dark and light positions, as long as it’s reasonably cool. n Do not allow the soil to dry out, but do not have standing water either. Bulbs with felt or wax will flower without water, but should not be too warm, otherwise the flowers will dry up. n There’s no need to feed, since the nutrients are already in the bulb.

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