Monday 19 February 2018

Out Of Sight Out Of Mind

Mick's auntie and uncle bought me an amaryllis for Christmas, it was one of those already planted up and packaged in a box so that the recipient can just take it out, water it and it springs into life. Well, that's the theory anyway. Unfortunately, the gift got moved before I did anything with it and though I didn't exactly forget about it, I kept putting off starting it off.

When I did decide to give the poor thing a drink of water and coax it into action, I found that it had got sick of waiting for me to get my act together and it had already started growing. Now the box that it was packaged in was quite a strong box and was clamped firmly shut but this wasn't going to prevent this bulb from growing, oh no. I think I opened the box in the nick of time because when I did eventually open it up I found that the amaryllis had put out quite a shoot, though there was no room inside the box for it to grow straight so instead it was growing horizontally.


I never thought for a moment that it would right itself, the stem was a sickly pale colour and there didn't look to be any way that it could start growing upwards after this poor start, but it did. It hasn't grown to quite the height it would have had it been given the care it needed in the beginning, but it certainly hasn't done bad, it's about a foot tall.


It's a gorgeous colour. I can't remember growing a two tone amaryllis before, though I might have done, my memory isn't what it used to be. There's two other buds round the other side so I should get more flowers.

I'm making sure that I'm vigilant with my watering regime now, I can't let this poor thing suffer any more than it already has.

44 comments:

  1. They have such stunning flowers, I love to grow them each spring. My favorite is Apple Blossom, which is a ink mix flower.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They really are stunning, I enjoy growing them. I've just googled the Apple Blossom variety, such a pretty colour.

      Delete
  2. It's beautiful, Jo. It seems like it was determined to grow! :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There was no stopping it. I got it out of the box just in the nick of time otherwise it would have been completely ruined, there wasn't a millimetre of space left.

      Delete
  3. Love the colour of your Amaryllis, lucky you remembered it in time. I forgot to get one this year and I have missed seeing how much they grow every day and the beautiful flower, they are amazing bulbs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's such a pretty colour. They're interesting bulbs to grow, you can almost see them growing before your eyes they grow so quickly.

      Delete
  4. Beautiful colour. Certainly a lot hardier than I would have thought.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was quite surprised that it had started growing of its own accord, I'm just glad that I didn't leave it any longer before I looked in the box.

      Delete
  5. It's amazing how determined plants can be. Wonderful flowers, and I like the colour of this one. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think this shows that plants will grow in the most inhospitable places. I usually go for bright red amaryllis, they look so striking, but I'm surprised how much I like the colour of this one.

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. It is. I'm so pleased that it was eventually liberated from its box.

      Delete
  7. I was like listenjng to a local gardening programme last week and one of the experts was saying that you can grow amaryllis without watering it ever, he's testing the theory this year with a watered one and one that's just left ... the non watered is showing more stems and blooms and looks much healthier. Downside you have to throw away the bulb after flowering as it's exhausted itself.
    Yours looks lovely

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's really interesting, I don't tend to keep my amaryllis bulbs anyway. I don't suppose they advocate growing inside a box though.

      Delete
  8. What a beautiful flower.
    Lisa x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love amaryllis, they produce such a showy flower.

      Delete
  9. Amazes me how resilient plants are. A beautiful flower, great you have some more buds to come too. Enjoy xcx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The second bud is opening up now so the flowers should last for a while longer. It's certainly brightening the room up.

      Delete
  10. It's a beautiful flower and was obviously very determined to grow. X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There was no stopping it. I'm so pleased that it managed to straighten up, it's looking lovely now.

      Delete
  11. I've always found amaryllis a bit scary ......

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think they're striking flowers, big and beautiful.

      Delete
    2. So have I! This one is a beauty though!

      Delete
    3. I suppose the buds look a little bit like that plant in Little Shop of Horrors.

      Delete
  12. Beautiful flowers. Mine hasn't flowered as yet but it has been kept in the cooler conservatory. It's looking healthy and I can't wait to see what colour it is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a nice surprise when you don't know the colour beforehand. I usually grow the red ones and they're really striking.

      Delete
  13. Arh bless it, it was determined and wanted to live. I hope it continues to give a good show for you. Such lovely colours, it reminds me of those small rock pieces (sweets) at the seaside shops. Cathy x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's putting on a great show, they're such cheery plants. I know what you mean about the rock pieces.

      Delete
  14. Replies
    1. It's a gorgeous colour, it's looking lovely on my windowsill.

      Delete
  15. I haven’t grown one of these for ages. I’m tempted by those with the smaller flowers but they are quite expensive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're fun to grow, they shoot up almost before your eyes.

      Delete
  16. I remember having one of these on my desk at work years ago and every day I would get out my ruler and measure it as it grew noticeably day by day. I was fascinated and, of course, the slightly 'rude' shape added to the interest. Those were the days - when I was so easily amused ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha. They do grow so quickly, I think they're fun for children to grow as they don't take long to shoot up and flower.

      Delete
  17. It is certainly pretty & must have wanted to survive just for you to admire. More TLC & hopefully you'll have pretty flowers for years to come. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a gorgeous colour, I'm really happy with it. I don't tend to keep my amaryllis bulbs, I buy new each time.

      Delete
  18. Jo, that's a lovely flower!
    Margaret P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's certainly brightening up the room, it's a beauty.

      Delete
  19. Amazing, just goes to show nature will find a way! My Grandad always grew an amaryllis at this time of year , they always make me think of him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have certain plants which make me think of people, it's funny what can evoke a memory.

      Delete
  20. It looks beautiful :) I always used to buy my Nan & Granddad one at Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're brilliant plants to grow. I've had four flowers so far and there's another stem growing now.

      Delete
  21. Such a lovely flower, and a gorgeous colour.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been really lucky with it, it's produced four beautiful flowers and now a second stem has grown which is just about ready to flower.

      Delete