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How to grow hippeastrum

in Home : Projects: Greenhouse and house plants

You will need

  • Hippeastrum bulb
  • Bulb fibre or multi-purpose compost
  • Flower pot, large enough to accommodate bulb or, ready-boxed hippeastrum kit with pot and compost included
  • Bowl to soak bulb
Do it: November - February
At its best: December - March
Takes just: 10 minutes

Project categories

Overview

The huge bulbs of hippeastrum already have the flowerbud inside, so they couldn't be simpler to grow. All you need to do is pot it up, water thoroughly and stand the hippeastrum in a well-lit place to enjoy its spectacular blooms.

How to do it

Hippeastrum bulb in bowl of water

1Soak the hippeastrum bulb and its roots in a bowl of tepid water for a few hours before potting it up.

Half filling flower pot with compost

2Half fill the pot with bulb fibre or multi-purpose compost, breaking up any lumps and lightly firming it in place with your fingers.

Filling around hippeastrum bulb with compost

3Set the bulb in place and fill between it and the sides of the pot with more compost. Water well and position the hippeastrum in a well-lit position to grow on.

Adam's tip

Keep your hippeastrum in a cool room with plenty of light as this will allow it to develop slowly, maintaining a strong flower shoot and leaves.

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Discuss this project

Talkback: How to grow hippeastrum
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bambi2900 24/11/2011 at 15:27

Great instructions for before and during but what do we do with the bulbs when they've finished flowering? Can they be kept and nurtured again for next year?
Thanks.

flatcap_man 24/11/2011 at 15:27

Dear Adam,
I was given severn Hippeastrum bulbs some five / six years go the then bulbs where quite small but have now developed into lovely bulbs but no flowers, lots of leaves,I feed them from the beginning of Dec; until the end of Feb; with a high potash content,any suggestion's please would be most welcome.

reillymarie 24/11/2011 at 15:28

I have not had a Hippeastrum for years and it is obvious to me now after reading all the comments that I did not have a clue as to how I should look after it.
I think it is just so wonderful that we can now see a video on how to care for plants.
By the way, those who have trouble seeing the videos should get themselves a 'Mac' and they will not miss any videos.

simonjbw 24/11/2011 at 15:28

Like bambi2900 I have just had an amasing flower from my amarylis bulb but what should I do now with the bulb for further success?

trudi 24/11/2011 at 15:29

It would be really helpful to know what to do after Amarylis stops flowering: Are all the stems and leaves cut down as soon as the bulb has stopped flowering - idiot guide required please. Many thanks.

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