Ask the
Green Thumb
A gardening expert digs into and answers your homegrown questions.
By Ann Wied
Brookfield, Wisconsin
Bring Back Blooms
My paperwhite narcissus and amaryllis plants, started from potting kits several years ago, bloomed beautifully at first. Though I followed directions—put them to bed, let the greens die off, cut them back, watered them and kept them in a dark, cool place—they haven’t bloomed since. Can I get them to bloom again? And can I plant them outside without having to bring the bulbs inside in fall? —Michele Winslow, Richfield Springs, New York
A: Don’t be discouraged! It’s almost impossible to get paperwhite narcissus to rebloom, since it’s usually forced in water. I recommend just enjoying those first blooms and then discarding the plant.
Amaryllis is a different story—there are several ways to get it to rebloom. You may want to keep it growing all year in its container, fertilizing at regular intervals. Move it outdoors for summer, like you would any summer outside potted plant. Bring it to a well-lit spot indoors for winter. Water as needed and wait. If all goes well, it may flower in both summer and winter. Good luck!
Ann Wied, our guest garden expert, is the Consumer Horticulture Educator for the UW-Extension in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. She teaches gardeners of all ages through workshops, hands-on gardening programs and presentations. Ann has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture and agriculture journalism.
Photo: Paula Cartwright (Headshot)
Photo: Red Peacock Amaryllis, www.parkseed.com
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