Amaryllis

[widgetwilk]

My Amaryllis has got 2 flowering stems, the first one has flowered and is almost dead, the second is just starting to open,
my question is, when it has finished flowering on each stem do I cut the stem off or just leave it to die down,

[widgetwilk]

[sunloving]

Arent they brill this time of year brightening things up , ive got a really gorg double red in my kitchen.

As for cutting the stem down, It depends whether you want the seeds, they do grow fine and true from seed and you can get to a flowering plant in about 4 years. So if you think there are seed pods and you want to sow them leave them on. If not cut them down. The leaves are what feeds the bulb not the flower stalk.
X sunloving

[widgetwilk]

Thank you for that quick reply, don't think I want to wait 4 years for another flowering plant,

[laurieuk]

Please do not cut them down treat them as bulbs and feed them with any high potash feed for about 5 months. You will then get lovely long good foliage which if left on will build the bulb up to flower and increase next year. I still have four bulbs from one bulb bought about 20 years ago dispite giving bulbs away almost every year to raffles etc.

My Amaryllis has got 2 flowering stems, the first one has flowered and is almost dead, the second is just starting to open,
my question is, when it has finished flowering on each stem do I cut the stem off or just leave it to die down,

[robbo]

Hi Laurieuk, what potash feed do you use?

  Robbo.

[laurieuk]

There are many and I use various ones ie tomarite, phostrogen  chempak   as long as the "K" is higher than the "N" you should be alright.

[sunloving]

Its the leaves that feed the bulbs not the flower stalks so any cutting down of the flower stems will not damage the vigor of the plant, in fact if you remove the stalk the plant wont put any energy into making seeds.
This is the principal behind deadheading.
x sunloving

[widgetwilk]

Can see the logic in that, just going up to it to cut the flower off, but do I cut top or bottom of stem??

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'd cut at the top. The stem is green so it'll be making food for the bulb the same as the leaves, and as it dies back, the nutrients will be extracted in the same way.

[widgetwilk]

Thanks for reply, as said, just like 'dead heading'

[laurieuk]

Yes as Robert says leave the stem there is goodness in there to help bulb the bulb, you just remove the dead flower to prevent seed forming. I tend to just pot on to a larger pot for a year or two until I want to seperate the bulbs out. Some some people knock them out and repot each year but I find it best just to pot on.