For Xmas I Received One Of Those "Lily Bulbs In A Box Kit"...

[arwalden]

... it had everything needed to grow a BEAUTIFUL red lily bulb: the bulb, peat moss soil, a plastic pot, and instruction on how to get started.

I followed the instructions and it grew SIX gorgeous blooms. After the last bloom faded, I cut back the flower stalk, but left the leaves. I keep the soil moist, but now it's just sitting there... holding its own, not growing, not dying, not blooming, it's just "there".

What do I need to do to make it bloom again? Will it "automatically" bloom, or do I need to do something special. I seem to recall hearing that with flowering bulbs, the gardener should dig it up and put the bulb in the refrigerator (supposedly this is to fool the bulb into thinking that it's winter so that it will bloom early when you take it out of the refrigerator... but I don't know if this is true.)

Has anyone had any luck with these things?

[babylonsister]

1. Sounds like an amaryllis. If it is (check pic at site), here's

all you need to know. My neighbor planted his outside but we have mild winters. They're beautiful!

http://www.amaryllis.com/pac.htm

[arwalden]

8. Yes... That's The One. I Had Forgotten Its Name...

Thanks very much for the link and the info!!

[StClone]

2. Amaryllis Care

After-Bloom Care

After-Flowering. After the amaryllis has stopped flowering, it can be made to flower again. Cut the old flowers from the stem after flowering, and when the stem starts to sag, cut it back to the top of the bulb.
Leaf Growth and Development. Continue to water and fertilize as normal all summer, or for at least 5-6 months, allowing the leaves to fully develop and grow. When the leaves begin to yellow, which normally occurs in the early fall, cut the leaves back to about 2 inches from the top of the bulb and remove the bulb from the soil.
Bulb Storage. Clean the bulb and place it in a cool (40-50 deg. F), dark place such as the crisper of your refrigerator for a minimum of 6 weeks. Caution: Do not store amaryllis bulbs in a refrigerator that contains apples, this will sterilize the bulbs. Store the bulbs for a minimum of 6 weeks.
Plant Again. After 6 weeks you may remove bulbs whenever you would like to plant them. Plant bulbs 8 weeks before you would like them to bloom.

[arwalden]

5. Wow! That's GREAT Information... THANK YOU!!

:hi:

[jedicord]

3. It won't bloom again until next year...

Keep it in the soil where you've always had it, then around November put the bulb in the refrigerator. Take it out in January and re-plant (or keep the bulb in the pot in the fridge).

You're right about not cutting the foliage, because the bulb needs that for energy to regain its blooming ability.

[arwalden]

7. Thanks!!

[Beware the Beast Man]

4. Just as a word of caution-

I believe amaryllis plants are poisonous to pets. :thumbsup:

[arwalden]

6. Thanks...This One Sits On The Window Ledge Above The Kitchen Sink

... so it's safely out of the way.

[barb162]

9. I plant them outside in the summer and bring them back

in in the fall, keep them in the garage for a while and repot for Xmas bloom

[Lisa]

10. I've got one that's bloomed 3 times now ...

I just finished repotting her last night (I call it "her" because it reproduced this spring, though it was an asexual subsidiary bulb situation).

I know it's possible to trick them into blooming again later in the year (as described by previous posters) -- but decided not to because a) I'm lazy, and b) I didn't want to deplete the nutrients in the bulb too soon.