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Amaryllis sparkles during holiday season

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED DEC 7, 2018

A bright amaryllis is a cheery addition to holiday decor. (Photo: Debbie Arrington)

Big bulb is easy to grow, easy to love

Amaryllis are the winter star of indoor bulbs. New hybrids boast blooms that are more than 8 inches across on strong 2-foot stems. With a succession of buds, these gigantic flowers last weeks in a sunny window.

And the large bulbs can rebloom for years to come outdoors, transplanted into the garden. They're hardy in USDA Zone 9, which includes Sacramento.

These bulbs, native to Mexico and Central America, have been winter favorites for generations, but their name can be confusing. What we popularly call amaryllis aren't actually Amaryllis, the genus that includes Naked Ladies (Amaryllis belladonna, a South African native). About two centuries ago, botanists split these hollow-stem varieties off into a separate genus, Hippeastrum (which mean's horseman's star). About 90 species are part of this genus with hundreds of hybrids available on the market.

In the Victorian language of flowers, amaryllis symbolize strength and determination. They're also associated with beauty, love and hard-won success. In Greek, amaryllis means "to sparkle."
And yes, the name Amaryllis comes from Greek mythology.

A maiden named Amaryllis fell in love with a flower-crazy shepherd, Alteo. Amaryllis asked the Oracle of Delphi for help in winning his heart. On the oracle's advice, Amaryllis stood outside Alteo's house for 30 nights, each night piercing her heart with a golden arrow. On the 31st night, a red flower sprouted from her blood - and won her Alteos affection.

That legend inspired the meaning behind the flowers.

Amaryllis bulbs are easy to love; no arrows necessary. Choose a firm bulb and a snug pot, only an inch or two larger than the bulb. Use a fast-draining mix of perlite and peat moss; add 1 tablespoon bone meal. Plant the bulb shallow, so about half of it sits above the soil line. Place the bulb in a sunny window, water once, then wait.

As the flower shoot starts to appear, water once or twice a week, turning the pot a quarter turn every few days to encourage the stem to grow straight. Otherwise, it will grow towards the light.

In spring after the blooms are spent, the bulb will push out strappy green leaves. Transplant the bulb into a protected spot with partial or full shade, such as on the north or east side of the house. Once established, the bulb will rebloom, but in May or June -- not December.

Amaryllis bulbs are now available at local nurseries such as The Plant Foundry and Green Acres. Also, check out the selection at amaryllis specialist White Flower Farm ( www.whiteflowerfarm.com ), which offers more than 70 varieties.

The one downside: Amaryllis contains a toxin that is poisonous to cats. Keep away from curious felines. Fortunately, this plant tastes bad, so cats rarely ingest too much.

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Garden Checklist for week of April 21

This week there’s plenty to keep gardeners busy. With no rain in the immediate forecast, remember to irrigate any new transplants.

* Weed, weed, weed! Get them before they flower and go to seed.

* April is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.

* Smell orange blossoms? Feed citrus trees with a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants.

* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.

* Thoroughly clean debris from the bottom of outdoor ponds or fountains.

* Spring brings a flush of rapid growth, and that means your garden is really hungry. Feed shrubs and trees with a slow-release fertilizer. Or mulch with a 1-inch layer of compost.

* Azaleas and camellias looking a little yellow? If leaves are turning yellow between the veins, give them a boost with chelated iron.

* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.

* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.

* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.

* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, radishes and squash.

* Plant onion sets.

* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias.

* Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.

* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.

* Mid to late April is about the last chance to plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.

* Transplant lettuce seedlings. Choose varieties that mature quickly such as loose leaf.

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