Red, I always forget

I started growing a couple of Amaryllis plants one year around Christmas, when on a whim I picked up two bulb kits on clearance at a local big-box store. I hadn't grown them before, but at 50 cents each they were a bargain. I potted them up in the little plastic pots they came in, using the included potting mix -- which seemed like straight peat moss. They both bloomed soon after: large, red, frilly blooms, a welcome burst of bold color for a winter windowsill.

The blooms faded, but the leaves remained, so I kept caring for the plants, putting them outdoors once it warmed up. Toward the end of summer you're supposed to move them into a dark spot until the foliage dies, then bring the bulbs out, repot them and enjoy new blooms around Christmas.

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I have no trouble at all growing these plants. They are remarkable undemanding, and are still in the original pots with the original peat potting mix -- I never repotted them. I may fertilize them once or twice a summer, but that's it.

The trouble I have is remembering to bring them into the garage early enough to get them dormant for winter blooms. Actually, I should say that's the first thing I have trouble with.

I usually just bring these into the garage in the fall just before the first frosts. That's not nearly enough time to go dormant before Christmas.

The second thing I can never remember is to bring them out of the garage early enough. Last year I completely forgot about them and they bloomed anyway in May, even though they were still on a dark shelf in my garage.

This year they started doing the same thing, but since they were on a more visible shelf I noticed the blooms and put them outside.

The blooms are bigger than ever. This must be their 5th year of blooming at least. They are so intensely red!

Something (snails?) really love the stem on this one, but it's still holding, even though you can see right through the damage to the other side.

Gotta love a plant that can provide so much bang for so little effort!

I just wish I could remember to do what I need, when I need to so they'll bloom in winter.

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