January 2010 (Northern Hemisphere)

[Katherine J]

3 or 4 weeks maybe... depends on our dreadful winter.
Last year I had on March 7. the first flower.

[Armin]

Hippeastrum cv. Naranja in flower.

This year only 8 flower stems compared to 13 last year but still makes a great display.
Flowering time is ~2month earlier then previous. Height of flower stems 65-97 cm.

All started with 1 bulb maybe 10 years ago. I never removed new bulbs. Now I can count min. 15.
Had to repot recently as the old plastic pot bursted under the pressure.

[galahad]

Stunning, Armin
It looks like your Phalaenopsis in the background are happy :-)

[Armin]

Ross,
yes, Phalaenopsis doing very well on the N/E window sill and flower regularly.
That's the hobby-horse of my wife. I don't interfer

[Ragged Robin]

Armin, your Hippeastrum cv. Naranj is a fabulous firey red - it's great to see these bulbs at this time of year when other flowers that dare to show are much more diminuitive - congratulations on 10 years of increasing success 

[Armin]

Robin,
I like the fired red too It is also very impressive how quick the flower stems can emerge from the bulbs if temperature and moist are fitting.
Keeping them alive 10 and more years is not difficult. In spring, after end of frost, I put the pot outside on the terrace in semi-shade, give fertilizer (potassium phosphate) and water them when required. In September I stop watering but put the pot on a from rain sheltered position until frost.
Then the pot is put in my cellar for bulbs dormancy. I do not water at all, remove the leaves when wilted and all is bone dry.
When the first flower stems appear and reach ~10cm I bring up the pot in a warm room. After carefully watering, within a couple of days I get the red firework!