Nature Friday

 This happened on Wednesday.   Mom says that I'm self-mutilating again.    I lick in between one of my pads until it's raw and then I limp and can barely walk.   I'm back in my sock until mom feels it's safe to take it off.   This is not the first time it's happened and I'm sure it won't be the last.  

The hyacinths are beginning to come alive!  Mom can't wait to bury her nose in them and sniff their beautiful fragrance♥

A very nice lady who reads my blog named Miss Diane sent us this email.

Dear Molly,

Please tell your Mom that your amaryllis is going to bloom again, bud is out of bulb so it will attempt to bloom regardless of your preferences. Give it water and light just as you did before and enjoy the second stem and blooms.

The usual recommendation is to allow your amaryllis to grow until fall before you force it to sleep. Or just let it keep growing year round. The leaves need to keep growing to rebuild the bulb after blooming. I let mine amaryllis grow constantly, never force sleep, and they have had long lives blooming every year. The leaves need to grow to make energy to make future flower buds. Mine just finished blooming second stem.

 

Some amaryllis varieties routinely send up two or sometimes three flower stems so please don’t be quick to withhold water and trim off leaves.

 

https://www.naturescapes-pa.com/your-guide-for-year-round-amaryllis-care/

 

https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2021-12-03-how-take-care-amaryllis-and-get-them-rebloom

 

https://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/how-to-grow-amaryllis-bulbs

Amaryllis Care After Blooming

• After flowering, your bulb is exhausted. If you want flowers next year (many people prefer simply to purchase new bulbs every fall), you must allow it to rebuild itself.
• When the last bloom fades, cut off the flower stalk 3-5" above the bulb, but do not cut off the leaves. They produce food that will be stored in the bulb.
• Put your plant in a sunny window, preferably one that is south-facing.
• Water when the top inch of the potting mix is dry to the touch, and begin fertilizing with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer once a month.
• When the danger of frost has passed in spring, set the pot outdoors in full sun or knock the bulb out of its pot and plant it in the ground in a sunny location.
• In fall—we often wait until frost blackens the leaves—bring the bulb indoors, cut off the foliage just above the bulb, and store it dry in a cool (55°F), dark place such as a basement for 8-10 weeks.
• Then pot (or repot) the bulb and water it. Thereafter, keep the potting mix almost dry until new growth emerges, and follow the instructions under "Pre-bloom Care."
• Amaryllis bulbs can rebloom once or sometimes twice a year for decades if they receive proper care and are repotted as they grow.

We think that it's just leaves this time and no flower~~

Thank you so much, Miss Diane.   You are a wealth of information and we really appreciate this!

Happy Friday, everybuddy!

Love ya lots♥

Molly