Traditions

A typical Thanksgiving day in our household is to try to sleep in (if you have a child or animal you know that is quite impossible). Then, after the usual hustle and bustle of getting breakfast going and tending to the animals, we sit down and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

After enjoying the floats and balloons, we get together with family and friends, relax -eat way too much! -and give thanks for all that we have.

This has been a long standing tradition in our home.

As many others have their traditions, so has the plant world. Not only do Christmas trees, poinsettias and Christmas cactus hold a place among traditional plants of the season; the amaryllis has also become part of the lineup, brightening the home with gorgeous flowers that last for weeks on end.

 

 Legend has it that a young woman named Amaryllis fell in love, but the man she was in love with would not return that love. He was more interested in his garden. In desperation the young woman went to an oracle who gave her a golden arrow.

She was told for 29 days to stop by his house and each day prick her heart with it.

On the 29th day a beautiful red flower grew where the blood of the girl's heart had fallen on the ground. Of course, like all fairy tale love stories, this one has a happy ending. The man fell instantly in love with the girl and he named the flower Amaryllis.

 

If you would like to add this beautiful flower to your home this season just follow these few easy steps.

• How To Choose A Pot - Like the Black Friday rush, Amaryllis like to be somewhat crowded. A pot that has drainage holes and is 1-2 inches wider and deeper than the bulb itself is a perfect home for it.

• How To Plant - If you look at an amaryllis they kind of resemble a human neck and shoulders. When planting you want the neck and part of the shoulders (1/3 of bulb) to stick up out of the soil. If they are planted too deep they will not bloom.

• When To Water - After planting your bulb water thoroughly then allow the soil to dry out before watering again. Once growth appears you will want the soil to stay moist, but not wet. Just remember this saying "No soggy britches".

• After Growth Appears - You will want to place your amaryllis in a sunny window. Once a day you want to turn you pot 180 degrees. This is called the Amaryllis twist. They like to grow towards the light and by turning the pot you will allow it to grow straight.

• When Do I Fertilize? - After growth appears you will want to fertilize every 2 to 4 weeks with a diluted fertilizer solution such as Bud N' Bloom.  

• When Will It Bloom? - Amaryllis take about 6 to 8 weeks from the time they are planted until they bloom. Once it starts to bloom, move your plant to an area which does not receive direct sunlight and is slightly cooler. This will prolong the life of the flowers.

I am adding the amaryllis to my traditions this year. I encourage you to do the same. Just like in the legend, you will fall in love with it too.  

Stay tuned for future newsletters, outlining what to do once the flowers are spent.