Genealogy Chat

Thanks for all the replies to this thread, I will follow the advice given and hope it flowers again next year.

Margaret - I'm sure you're not a miserable sod really!

Well said Margaret, long may it flower.

I don't usually respond to these chatty things cos I'm a miserable sod, but this one tickled me a bit.

The "myfamilytreeish" has the botanical name "arborus familia", and I am sorry to tell you all that it is a very unpredictable plant. It can suddenly spurt and require a lot of attention, or die away suddenly so that you wonder whether to throw it out. It can also be expensive to maintain, but keen gardeners will know that when it flowers it is be a delight to behold and proves well worth the effort.

It is very tempting to plant other "arbori familiae" alongside the original, but this can produce overcrowding and often necessitates careful pruning.

Relatives will appreciate cuttings from time to time.

Margaret

Hi,
Cut down the flower stem when it has withered. Continue watering and possibly feeding the plant until about end of Aug then let it dry out completely and when the leaves die own ,cut them off. Start the plant into growth again in late Nov by watering and the new flower spike should emerge. The new leaves may grow at the same time or slightly later.
Using this method I kept several Amaryllis bulbs growing for many years.

Ahhh, but have you got any gardeners in your tree? They'll keep it tidy lol

Yes my "Myfamilytreeish" has sent new twigs off in all directions. I think it needs pruning!

Talking of indoor plants I have an indoor tree the Latin name of which is “Myfamilytreeish” and it has been growing steadily over the past few years, but this week for some unknown reason its gone berserk with new twigs and a few new branches.

You're correct, Margaret, it is Hippeastrum we're talking about but they're called Amaryllis and sold as that.
I also have the true Amaryllis but it's an outdoor bulb, even survives our Canadian winters. It's a fascinating plant, sends up leaves in the spring, they die down, then it sends up a beautiful flower in August with no leaves.

Are you sure you havnt got a Hippeastrum?This is often mistakenly called Amaryllis. Hippys have leaves.
Amaryllis called Belladonna Lily or naked lady dont.

Hippys flowers indoors

Hi Blossom,

have you been on chat or general boards yet? There are loads of threads there which are nothing to do with genealogy. Chat is designed to chatter away to friends and general seems to be intended to chatter about family tree stuff but we chat about all sorts there.

Most people are really friendly and you may get more replies. I have a gardener way back in my family tree but unfortunately I don't know much about him - shame.

Best of luck

Many years ago daughter gave one to her primary school teacher. It did so well and came up anew every year.
It almost became like one of her family, and people used to ask after it !..Lol
I believe the bulb threw off 'babies' after a while and these were given to friends.
So genealogy has a link here !

Gwyn

Thankyou Margaret.

We cut the flower stem off ours, left the leaves on, left it in the pot and put it outside for the summer, keeping it watered. Took it out of the pot at the end of the summer and let it dry out then re-potted it a month or so ago and it's starting to flower now.

Thank you so much for your replies. I will cut the stem back and put it somewhere cool until next autumn and then check on it and repot it if necessary.

I knew I'd get a good response on here! Makes a change from chasing dead rellies!

I had one last year and when it finished flowering I just cut the stem back and left the leaves on - assuming they are like daffs and need them to help feed the bulb.

I then put it out in the shed and forgot about it till last week! It had started to send up green shoots but the bulb was severely lacking food and had shrunk quite a bit.

So I am guessing what I should have done is sometime in the autumn repotted the bulb in fresh new soil and brought it indoors but kept in the dark till it had started sprouting.

I shall wait for someone with more knowledge than I on such matters. lol

Just leave the flowering stem to die back on its own.

No more watering needed unless you notice a second flowering shoot emerging.

Once the stem has died back . Cut the stem back to the neck of the bulb. Leave the pot in a cool place until November and then you can start all over again.

Sue

Thank you - might try this, it's not that important though, just thought I would put it on as I was here anyway!

Do we have any genealogists out there who are also gardeners? I have an Amaryllis bulb that has flowered beautifully on my kitchen windowsill. What do I do with it now? I take it that it is an indoor bulb so do I simply cut it back and leave it till next year?

Any help appreciated - and sorry for putting this query here, but as I was on anyway...........