Hello, I just realized I gave my mom a big blood lily (Scadoxus multiflorus) 2-3 years ago, after it was mine for some more years but I never saw any bloom. Now it's in a plastic bucket and has made 4-5 pups around, the leaves are nice, healthy but it never blooms. Well, I live in Romania, temperate climate, very long and cold winters - which means it has always been in a pot or another, but there must be something wring we do... as we never get the red balls of flowers. What should I do ? 1. stop watering during dormancy - for the winter months November-March? Won't it dry&die??? 2. get it out of the pot and keep it just as a bulb/onion until spring comes and plant it directly in the ground in spring, after last frost - April? 3. stop watering during the winter months but still keep it in the pot and start watering in spring? Or it's just in the wrong climate and it will never bloom ??? I remember my friend who gave it to me at least 6-7 years ago told me about the red flowers... so I guess she must have done it right for the plant to bloom... and she was not just talking from books Any tips from someone who lives in a similar climate and successfully getting it to bloom - would be much appreciated. I know it's too late for this year, as the blooms normally come before or right after it makes leaves, and mine already got the leaves... but maybe I can do something for next year. MANY THANKS, CALIN
Well, you could try digging a pit in the ground outside in the sun...filling the pit with good, rich compost and sacked 'Garden soil'-- then take the bulb out of the pot and plant it in this composted pit. Water it in well and see what happens. Whatever DOES happen, you can easily dig it back up and keep it in a pot or dry box inside over the winter. I wish you success. when it blooms, please post a piccy.
