Do you think that this amaryllis I have will continue to grow and bloom? I bought it today at Target (all the holiday items were 75% off...couldn't pass it up ) and it was 1 of 3 they had left. I took it out and it had already grown in the box and was flowering. I put it in the pot right away and have it in the light. How hardy are they? I have another one that I got at Christmas and it is just starting to grow, so I wonder why the plant I bought today is already blooming???

Also, does anyone out there grow orchids? I was given 5 of them and would love any tips to keep them healthy and get them to bloom! One has already bloomed, but the flower is only as big as a quarter. I don't know the species of any of them.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, January 3, 2004 - 06:01 pm:

Amaryllis - check some web sites - I prefer Dutch Gardens. I've grown them, and once they bloom, wait until it finishes blooming, keep watering for a while, then let it dry out, cut off leaves, and put pot and all in a cool spot in the basement until next year - it will bloom again.

Orchids - I have a friend who grows orchids and says they are easy to grow. I don't know much but do know they need lots of humidity - I think she sprays them regularly. Again, check for web sites

I'd google for amaryllis +growing and orchids +growing and see what comes up. There should be some good gardening or horticultural sites. I would trust sites from non-commercial organizations such as horticultural societies or orchid societies to give good information without selling you stuff.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, January 3, 2004 - 06:24 pm:

here are some web sites for amaryllis - both make sense from what I remember:

http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/askext/indoor/222.htm

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/amaryllis.html

Here are some orchid web sites, including one for novice orchid growers:

http://www.shindale.com/orchids/shinor01.htm

http://dmoz.org/Home/Gardens/Associations/Orchids/

The second one is a list of Orchid Associations all over, and seems to offer links to some beginner guidance.

What I would do is look around for a well-established garden supply & gardening store - not a Franks or Home Depot, but a local business that specializes in gardening and garden plants, maybe has a greenhouse, and go to them. Take along one of your orchids, maybe. They will be delighted to give you advice and, if they are a local garden store that sells orchids, it will probably be good advice - after all, if you are successful and fall in love with growing orchids they know you will come back for supplies and maybe more orchids. I am lucky to have such a place near me, and I can take in a plant or leaf and say - what is this and, if it is a weed, how to I get rid of it - and so on, and they are wonderfully helpful.

By Sunny on Saturday, January 3, 2004 - 06:44 pm:

Thank you for the websites. I am a true novice when it comes to orchids. The plants I was given are well-established plants, but I was not told what kind they are (and they all have different leaves). I am slightly intimidated by the thought of caring for them, as I've always believed orchids require special care, but I would love to see them thrive and produce flowers.

The sites for the amaryllis say that they are easy plants to grow and care for. I'm hoping that means this new plant will recover with a little care. I'm looking forward to seeing them bloom and keeping them for years to come.

By Colette on Saturday, January 3, 2004 - 07:27 pm:

I have several different kinds of orchids. Most of mine do quite well with cool temps (inside) and in the summer if it's not sweltering I put them outside. The best way to water them is to submerge them in a bucket (or sink) full of water and keep them in it until you see no more air bubbles. I water mine once a week. They will flower for a long time and then they will just look like bamboo for awhile - maybe up to a year and all of a sudden they will send off a shoot and a new one will start. I do not prune mine, I did that once and it never flowered again. So now I wait until the stalk is completely dead and it will just pull out. Good luck!