The only plant I've never killed! (Amaryllis)

Member Name: Blurbubble

Product:	Amaryllis
Date:	03/05/02 (271 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap and easy to grow

Disadvantages: None obvious

Well, it was on a whim some time ago after being housebound and fed up to the back teeth, that I decided to attempt growing some house plants as another interest.

I tried, how I tried, I gave them their own light but sheltered spot, watered them, fed them, even said "Good Morning" occasionally but they all sprouted then withered and died without much action. All except for one.

The Amaryllis (Hippeastrum). For years as a child my mother had a row of these on the window sill at home and they were affectionately known as "the Triffids" due to their appearance and they always seemed to yield impressive flowers without too much tending. So I decided to have a go myself.

I bought one from Woolworths that came complete with ceramic pot and compost in a kit for £3.99 but you can buy just the separate bulbs from garden/homeware shops for about £1 each if you don't want to buy a kit.

So I duly plonked the bulb in the pot - sorry carefully planted it in the pot with the compost - as per the instructions on the box and watered it and fed it with "MiracleGro". Success! My Triffid grew an impressive 15 inch stalk with about 5 large trumpet shaped blooms in a glorious deep red colour and last for a few months. It is still alive but "resting" during the colder months.

These plants are very easy to keep as they do not require too much watering and do not need a lot of pruning and tending to, just remove the dead leaves at the end of their season. Sometimes the thick, fleshy main stalk may need a support as they do grow very tall. All being well they should grow a new stalk with glorious blooms annually.

I chose a deep red colour but they also come in pink, orange, red and white striped and pink and white striped. They are readily available in most garden/plant outlets and even I can grow them!

My only success and so I will stick with the simple but beautiful Amaryllis p
lant in future and enjoy a nice display of triffids!

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