A Visit to Cistus Nursery
I rarely go to nurseries anymore since I work part-time at one and another reason being that I don't have much room for additional plants. When a garden fanatic runs out of room, the brain goes into overdrive, dreaming up ingenious ways to incorporate more plants. And another thing happens - a burning desire to obtain rare and unique plants. I've been moving plants around, a tricky process that has a domino effect. A plant is unhappy - it is getting too much shade or perhaps too much sun. There is a plant that did not get as large as you thought it would or it is just a slow grower and now it is hopelessly hidden behind a taller plant. Sometimes a plant is just a dud for reasons unknown (Rhododendron 'Golden Gate' anyone?). I find the plant in question a better home, but it means that another plant will have to be moved. And the merry-go-round continues to turn... However, for those plants that are to be discarded, a space opens up for a new one! I decided to move a Mou...
I heard of that method used when forcing paper weight daffodils.
ReplyDeleteThe scarf'ed baby pan is a nice touch!
Chavli
It does work for paperwhites - I haven't tried it but the article mentioned them.
DeleteThat's hilarious, Phillip. Of those I've grown in the last few years, only the Cybister Amaryllis types seem to be growing tall enough to lean significantly. As I inevitably cut most of mine for flower arrangements, leaning stems aren't a big issue but I'll keep that tip in mind!
ReplyDeleteI bet you grow them in the ground?
DeleteDo you keep watering with that alcohol and water combination each day after it gets a few inches tall, or just once and it arrests the height enough? Mine was a gift after Christmas, so it was a bit desiccated and I wondered whether it would sprout at all. It has a bud on a 2 inches tall stem, total about 5 inches counting the bud now, and the leaves coming up are only about 2 inches with dried tips from its dry history. I wonder if it will be naturally stunted anyway from being dormant too long, or whether I should go ahead and give it an alcoholic drink soon?
ReplyDeleteWhen I first pot it up, I just use regular water. Then, when it sprouts and begins to growth, I started watering with the alcohol/water solution. You are supposed to continue watering with it. I don't water amaryllis that often, maybe just once per week. They don't seem to need that much. Yours should continue to grow. I would just snip off the brown tips.
DeleteI have heard of this trick, then forgot about it. Your amaryllis bloom is beautiful :)
ReplyDelete