Apple Blossom Amaryllis Update

Two years ago I published a post, Plans to Grow My Apple Blossom Amaryllis in the Ground, regarding a beautiful amaryllis I had received as a Mother's Day gift. Amaryllis plants are hardy in my area, so later that year in the fall I planted it in a sunny spot next to the patio. Last year I was disappointed when it produced lovely foliage but no blooms. 

Why no blooms? Too much nitrogen fertilizer or soil that is too rich could be a culprit. Poor drainage is another possibility. I did not think any of these factors applied to my amaryllis. Too much shade? I eyed an overhanging dogwood branch and considered the possibility. Sun floods the area by the patio most of the day, but in that particular corner there was some shade part of the day. I trimmed back the tree branch and waited to see if the amaryllis would bloom this year.

Success! This year my Apple Blossom Amaryllis put on a show. Here the Apple Blossom Amaryllis had just begun blooming. Other plants are Coral Drift roses, Bacopa, and a silvery Artemesia. I used two unobtrusive green plastic stakes to hold the stalks upright.It grew to 34" tall and put out a total of eight blooms on two stalks. Each bloom was over 9" across.

My beautiful amaryllis has finished blooming now. I have cut off the tall stalks, but the strappy foliage remains, hopefully storing energy for additional blooms next year.

Plans to Grow My Apple Blossom Amaryllis in the Ground

I was happy to receive an Apple Blossom Amaryllis as a Mother's Day gift. It came in a wooden box, and the tips of two bulbs were just visible above the surface. It has grown quickly and is now in full bloom.May 10
June 4

June 7

June 8

June 13: Now it is in full bloom, and see, two more bud are coming up!

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) will grow outdoors in zones 7b - 10, and my only other amaryllis has reappeared and bloomed each year since I put it in the ground. I am very fortunate, because it is much easier for me to grow amaryllis in the ground than to remember all requirements necessary to get it to bloom again indoors. So Apple Blossom will go into the ground, too.

I have moved my amaryllis indoors to preserve the longevity of the blooms. Once blooming is finished, my plan is to put the amaryllis outside in bright light, then gradually move it to a permanent location in a sunny spot that receives some afternoon shade. I will plant it in well drained garden soil that is high in organic matter. Bone meal is an excellent organic source of phosphorus, which stimulates root growth and flowering, so I will mix bone meal into the soil before planting. I will cut the faded blooms off but leave the stalks until they have turned yellow, because the plant must store nutrients in the stalk in order to bloom next year. I will fertilize it monthly through the summer with an organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion. Mulching is beneficial, especially during fall and winter. Next year when new growth begins, I will begin fertilization again by working bone meal into the soil around the plant and resuming fertilization with fish emulsion.

Then, hopefully, next year I will be again be blessed with these fabulous blooms!

For an update on how the Appleblossom Amaryllis did once I planted it in the ground see this May, 2017 post: Apple Blossom Amaryllis Update