“I love amaryllis because they are plump and juicy. They feel like spring even in the middle of winter.” ~Jonathan Adler
I sure do need a bit of spring and these amaryllis, really a Hippeastrum, are providing color and blooms that unfurl to their fullest ever so slowly so I can savor them.
This flower is actually in a vase. I bought 2 different vase kits from White Flower Farm.
They are pricey as these are very large heavy glass vases filled with river pebbles.
The bulb rests on top of pebbles with water an inch below the bulb. Amazing how well they grow and seem supported. I decided that the expense was worth it because I didn’t want the mess and fungus gnats that always seemed to come when I planted the bulbs in soil indoors.
And this way I can reuse the vase and pebbles with new bulbs indoors during the growing season now and each new winter. I actually ordered four more bulbs to grow through March, from John Scheepers, replacing each one as they fade. I know you can overwinter these bulbs, but I don’t have the right conditions here at my house to do it so they will actually live to bloom again.
I needed lots of space for these vases where there is also lots of light. So I placed them on our antique, oak coffee table. They get strong indirect light during the morning and then some direct light later in the afternoon.
Did you know amaryllis means pride, strength and determination. Perfect for a plant that blooms so beautifully indoors in our cold winters. Amaryllis is also a Greek name which means ‘to sparkle’. I’d say aptly named. These bulbs are commonly called amaryllis, but are really Hippeastrum.
With additional bulbs, I am looking forward to seeing each new bulb grow and bloom through the winter months. Hoping by March (February if it is a warm winter) to see some early outdoor bulbs bloom.
But as I wait, I have indoor blooms to cherish, many of which will find themselves in vases in the coming weeks.
With this vase, I am joining in with the wonderful meme, In A Vase On Monday, from Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All the pictures shared in this post were taken with my Nikon Coolpix or iPhone camera, and manipulated on my iPhone using the apps, Pixlr and Prisma.
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