| Storage Temperature: 41 - 50 F |
| Ethylene Sensitive: Yes |
| Description: Four to Six large trumpet shaped
blossoms clustered at the top of a long thick leafless stem. |
| Colors: Red, pink, orange, salmon, white, several
shades, and bi-colors. |
| Botanical Facts: Hippeastrum comes from the Greek
word hippos (horse) referring to the blossom of the species H. piniceum, which was likened
to the head of a horse. The Amaryllis is related to the daffodil. Native
to the Andes Mountains of Chile and Peru. The amaryllis was discovered in 1828 by
Eduard Frederich Poeppig, a young physician from Leipzig, on a plant hunting expedition in
Chile. |
| Design Notes: A single stem of Amaryllis,
alone in a vase is a common design for this very large flower. Amaryllis are also
beautiful in vegetative and botanical designs. |
| Purchasing Hints: Purchase with several tight
buds showing color and just beginning to open. |
| Conditioning: Cut under water with as sharp
knife. Hydrate in warm water for two hours before storage or usage. Use
commercial floral preservative / food. |
| Additional Notes: Storage of the
Amaryllis at temperatures colder than 40F can result in discoloration of the buds and
petals. Handle carefully as the blooms bruise easily. Allow room in the
storage bucket for the blossoms to open without bruising. The stem ends have a
tendency to split and curl outward when standing in water. This does not affect the
life of the flower. To prevent the splitting and curling, wrap a strip of clear
waterproof tape around the end of the stem. |
