[pbs] Amaryllis Trouble
Diana Chapman
rarebulbs at suddenlink.net
Mon Oct 29 20:10:32 EST 2007
All bulbs draw on their food reserves to make new leaves, so this would
account for some shrinking of the bulb. Most commercially offered
Hippeastrums also have had their roots removed, so they also have to draw on
stored reserves to make new roots. This is a huge draw off the bulb, so no
wonder it gets smaller! Just think of those big leaves, and the roots, plus
the flower and flower stem -- where does the energy come from to make them??
>From the bulb; therefore the bulb shrinks. This happens normally, and that
is what those food reserves in the bulb are for. Food reserves are then
replaced through photosynthesis of the leaves. They shouldn't get smaller
every year, though, and if they do they are not being fertilized enough and
possibly are planted in too small a pot. It takes at least two years for a
commercially grown Hippeastrum minus its roots to recover and make another
flower bud, which will not show up until the third year.
Diana
Telos Rare Bulbs
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