Amaryllis by Starr Ockenga
A
book just 95 pages long, including the extensive bibliography, Starr
Ockenga's book will not need another to supplement it. The photographs are
extrordinary. Her instructions for planting are thorough. For culture of
the bulb she presents prevailing wisdom and states what she herself did,
allowing the reader to choose their own course
This beautiful garden book includes a pests and diseases page and it has
lots of information on cultivation and propagation plus there is a glossary
with pictures of 96 different hybrids complete with growing information (type,
height/flower size and time from planting until flowering)
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Amaryllis, its history and uses in flower arranging and floral art, and a reference book for further reading.
The
Facts
These
large bulbs are warm climate plants. Although the Amaryllis comes from South
Africa and the Hippeastrum comes from South America, they are similar in many
ways and were once both classified in the Amaryllis genus. The 2 plants seem
to be often confused and their names interchanged by those amongst us who
aren't botanists.The plant Amaryllis belladonna is also known as the belladonna lily and the naked lady.
When used as individual specimens, in mass plantings, as part of perennial borders or as low
plantings in front of shrub borders, Amaryllis provide spectacular flower effects with large,
robust flowers. They have a
wide range of flower colours from red, pink and white to combinations of these.
An Amaryllis bulb may produce flowers for up to
75 years. Good quality bulbs of named varieties may produce up to six flowers on a single stalk.
Amaryllis
Garden
Use
The large, bell-shaped or lily-like flowers of the Amaryllis and its hybrids make excellent garden
subjects and pot plants.
They
will grow in almost any good garden soil as long as it is well-drained. An
elevated bed may be necessary to ensure good drainage. A soil rich
in organic matter will provide best growth.
Amaryllis
can be propagated by seed, offsets or cuttage. Since seeds do not always
produce plants similar to their parents, most named hybrids and selected
strains are propagated by cuttage.
Garden plants should be checked frequently for insects and diseases. "Red blotch" or leaf scorch
disease is quite common. It appears as red spots on leaves, flower stems and flowers. Leaves or
stems may be deformed and the bulb may have large, red blotches which rot easily.
Growing in Containers
When grown in containers, Amaryllis prefer a sandy-loam soil mix. Potting
can be done any time after the plants have gone through a dormant or rest
period, which is late summer or early fall. Off-shoots can be removed
and repotted separately at this time.Container-grown amaryllis can be transplanted
outside as soon as the danger of frost has passed
In
Flower Arranging
You condition the flowers by recutting them under water and adding
preservative to the water they will be arranged in. Soak floral foam in this
water if that is what you are using, but they prefer being arranged
in a water filled container.A stem will last up to two weeks if you fill a cup with the same solution of preservative and water.
Upend the stem, and fill it with the preservative solution.
If the stem needs support, gently push a clean stick up into the stem, all the way to the head.
Put a wad of cotton wool in the bottom of the stem to hold the stick in, covers the end with your thumb to hold the water in,
and put the stem into the container water before removing your thumb.
If you are in an area where you can buy them as cut flowers, buy them
with the buds showing colour, but only 1 or 2 blooms starting to open.
Usually the cut flower market sells Hippeastrums rather than Amaryllis but,
hey, if they look the same to the untrained eye, go for it!
The Amaryllis traditionally has symbolised Pride, splendid beauty and poetry according to the Telefora experts.
For
reference
Amaryllis by Starr Ockenga
A
book just 95 pages long, including the extensive bibliography, Starr
Ockenga's book will not need another to supplement it. The photographs are
extrordinary. Her instructions for planting are thorough. For culture of
the bulb she presents prevailing wisdom and states what she herself did,
allowing the reader to choose their own course
This beautiful garden book includes a pests and diseases page and it has
lots of information on cultivation and propagation plus there is a glossary
with pictures of 96 different hybrids complete with growing information (type,
height/flower size and time from planting until flowering).
Buy here
Amaryllis
The Amaryllis traditionally has symbolised Pride, splendid beauty and poetry according to the Telefora experts.
