Q. How do I get my amaryllis to bloom again next year.
A. After the flower fades, clip it off, leaving the green foliage. Treat the plant like any other houseplant.Water regularly and fertilize either with a slow release NPK fertilizer which lasts several months, or a liquid NPK administered 2-4 times per month. In mid-to-late summer, stop watering and let the plant dry out. In the early fall, remove the bulb from the pot, taking care not to damage the roots. Store the bulb in a cool (48° F to 55°F), dark place for about 8 to 10 weeks. It is not necessary to let the plant go dormant.At the end of the 8 to 10 week period the bulb is ready to force into flower gain.Repot the bulb in a pot only slightly larger in circumference than the bulb itself. Place it in a sunny spot and start watering. When the plant begins to grow again, start the feeding program again.
Q. Where can I buy the rare black tulip?
A. Actually, black tulips are not rare -- black tulips do not exist! What do exist are some very, very deep purple tulips, some of which appear almost black. The search for the fabled black tulip has been an epic quest for centuries. In 1850 Alexander Dumasfamed French author of The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers and The Man in the Iron Maskcaptured the popular fancy with The Black Tulip (now with Oxford University Press), a romantic tale in which a fictional black tulip figures in a love story laced with murder, torture, greed, dastardly intrigue, and sudden surprises.
Today, the lure of a black tulip still attracts. Dutch hybridizers have achieved some very, very deep purples. 'Queen of Night,' for example, is officially listed as "deep velvety maroon" and is very, very dark in color. But achieving a true black tulip, say the experts, is not possible (yet still worth the try!). For a near-black experience also try: T. 'Burgundy' (deep purple-violet), T. 'Black Parrot' (violet-black) or T. 'Black Diamond' (deep mahogany).
Q. Should I apply mulch? How deep?When?
A. Mulch is not required but it is often beneficial. Three inches is plenty. Wait until the ground cools down. Contrary to popular notions, mulching over bulbs is meant to retain soil moisture nd keep the ground temperatures cool and stable, not to serve as a "warm winter blanket" (except in the very coldest climates). Mulch just before the ground freezes. Applying mulch too early in the season, when the ground is still soft and warm, can invite infestations by field mice and other critters who like to burrow in to establish winter quarters (and no doubt dig up tasty tulip treats!).
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