Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 7/3/2006

Question
Hi KJ.

I have an amarylis that I've had for at least 6-7 years. The first 2 years I owned it, it bloomed very nicely, when I lived in Fort Lauderdale, and kept it in a North exposure window. However, since I've moved to Pompano, the sun is East or West. This poor thing has not bloomed since moving here, and I've been here 4 yrs. Can you help?

I have fertilized it in the past, but not to the frequency you noted in your note to Jo. I'll do that today, but any info you can share I would be most grateful to hear. This is a lovely flower and I'm not sure what else to do with it.

:)  cml

Answer
As long as the bulb enlarge, it should eventually flower. Make sure it has plenty of water, too. Amaryllis bulbs will enlarge if given fertilizer, water, and plenty of sun.

Amaryllis (hippeastrum) will usually flower if exposed to some kind of stress, so you could try a varity of things such as withholding water in fall and let the bulb go dormant for a few weeks before starting again. Provided it has been given 9-10 months of active growing, it should flower.