How about here?
No? Neither can I because they aren't there. That's the problem.While these things are blooming all over the Midwest right now, even at an unoccupied house for sale down the street, not one of mine is blooming. But, you say, how do we know there are any Lycoris there at all. (An excellent existential question. Sartre would be proud.) Okay here's the proof. This was taken in April.
This was taken today.
I haven't dug them out and they send up leaves every year, so I know they aren't dead. I don't get it. I've tried them in three different places around the property, I even fertilized them, and never a bloom. This has been going on for years. Are these some sort of special Lycoris that never bloom? They were divisions from plants that still bloom reliably every year (at my mom's house). Did someone put a no-Lycoris-bloom curse on me? I'm ready to give up on them.
23 comments:
Maybe you should threaten to dig them out and throw them on the compost in they don't bloom within the next year. They will understand, I'm sure. ;)
Threatening seems to work in my garden. But you know that foliage does look a little wimpy compared to the foliage I am used to. I know mine needed a year to really come into their own and I even have a clump that is not blooming. Seems the clump that blooms is high and dry and gets pretty good sun. The soil is not overly rich. Do all the areas you have tried have lots of sun? Maybe leave them for one more year and see if they bloom there.
Hmmm...is the folage being cut back to early in the spring? My neighbor mow their's down and they still come back every year. quite a puzzle.
This may be one of those great mysteries that we never solve. I know peonies don't like to be planted too deep, maybe the Lycoris are fussy like that, too. I transplanted mine all around last fall, and they all bloomed for me these past few weeks, no special treatment.
So, I've got no real advice, like I said, it's a mystery.
Hi MMD, those are the mystery plants as to what makes them bloom. I found that extra water in that spot during drought helped a lot. I kept track of the dying foliage so I knew where to direct the water. Still out of five clumps only three had blooms. Mine are in partial shade and unimproved soil, of course excellent drainage, that's the only kind we have here on the slope. A couple of years we had no blooms, who knows why, maybe The Shadow knows? 'Cause I sure don't.
mmd,
Mystifying and irritating! Mine get neglected and ignored and most of the time they bloom. On the other hand the Red Spider Lily often doesn't bloom! Have you tried them in a container?
They aren't near the mysterious cracks are they? You never know!
Like the others, it a great mystery to me too MMD. I don't know what else to say. I would try the container idea.
Hi MMD, I have five clumps, last year three of them bloomed, this year only two of them bloomed. Like yours, the strappy foliage does come up every year, so I know they're still viable.
They can take up to three years to start blooming after moving them, and as Carol said, they like to be planted shallowly - the tips of the bulbs at soil level or just below.
I dug mine from a previous garden where they were planted shallowly. They didn't bloom the first year there, but bloomed every year after without fail in almost full shade. I was afraid the squirrels would dig them up here, and I've probably got them too deep.
MMD, I had some a few years ago and I think it was purely accidental that they bloomed-I'm sure I didn't really know what I was doin at the time. After maybe 3 years, the leaves came up but then no more blooms and now not even the leaves. I would give up on those and get some new large bulbs. I know how irritating it can be to see them growing in other areas. There are some at a school near hear way out by the ball field in grass that gets mowed every week!
Hmmm MMD ...
It appears that we are having the same problem as you are this year. All over town they are blooming strong right now, but in our backyard, not so much. Same story: foliage was up and lush in the spring, they've gotten consistent (at times too much) water, and not a bloom to be seen.
We have seen them skip a year or so over time, so maybe sometimes they just need to recharge and take a really long break. They are in the Amaryllis family after all, and sometimes they don't want to bloom when we wake them up from their fall nap.
Corrina - I like the threat idea. That worked with my Trilliums this year, maybe it'll work on these things.
Tina - these plants used to be in full sun, but when the other plants around them fill out, it's possible that the bulbs are then in too much shade. I was trying to give them foliage companions to bloom with.
Aunt Debbi - the foliage has never been cut or removed, so that's not the answer.
Carol - too deep planting? Intriguing idea.
Frances - I'll have to track down this Shadow & get some answers!
Gail - I've never tried them in a container because they are hardy only to Zone 5 & I plant things that are hardy to Zone 4 in containers that get left out all winter. No, they aren't near the cracks in the soil, they are in the prairie garden out front.
PGL - I could try putting one in a container next summer after the leaves die down & see what happens.
Garden Girl - I'll dig them up & replant them shallower & I've just realized I have the perfect place for them (I think) that would solve another problem. I'm going to try them by the Mayapples, which are not happy because they lost their shade. This way, if the Lycoris blooms, there'll be something there instead of just ugly browned Mayapple foliage.
IVG - yes, I've heard that they need time to adjust & rebuild, but I've been waiting too long for these stupid things. (Can you tell I'm fed up with them?)
MMD, I'm sorry. I'm of no help at all. I have some in practically full sun, some in a LOT of shade, some in partial shade, some in... I neglect them completely (other than making sure a little water is squirted over the entire bed if I need to water).
We all have mystery plants... I had to laugh at Gail's query about the cracks. (Was that a "wise crack?") Oh, sorry.
Anyway, I've been watching my Kopper King hibiscus with an eagle eye and the only thing I've noticed are some little white flies that I've come to terms with... I should post a photo of the pitiful little thing. I hope it grows next year after I transplant it!
Maybe they are planted too deep??? I have never noticed that they were very tempermental.
I'll vote for too deeply planted also; they just won't bloom if they're too deep, especially in heavy clay soil. The foliage did get damaged last year in many places by that late freeze, and that also is keeping them from blooming as well this year for a lot of folks.
Don
I think that's the answer -- They're too deep. Mine just pop up all over the place. I never know where they'll show up. I never heard of them being fussy.
You made me laugh about it so that's a good thing. I like the fact that there are some growing in the yard of the empty house down the road. Sure seems unfair but looks like you got a lot of good answers. I hope they appear next year!
I think these are existential lilies--they don't believe in resurrecting:)
Seriously, I have no advice--I didn't plant mine and didn't even know they were there until they bloomed! Perhaps yours need more neglect?
Shady - the comment about the cracks refers to the large cracks in the woodland garden soil. It's drying out there terribly again. Poor KK, I hope it recovers.
Thanks, Lisa, Don & Jane Marie. I will be digging them up as soon as the soil looses it's concrete nature.
Anna - nothing in the garden is fair, but seeing those neglected Lycoris blooms is like adding insult to injury.
Hmm. Mine are planted all over the place, in sun, shade, part shade. They are blooming like champs. I didn't know they were supposed to be planted so shallow and I planted them about 8 inches deep, and they bloom just wonderfully, every year.
Hope you get it figured out, I love my Naked Ladies, such a very special flower with the elegant blue tips on the ends of the petals.
HMH - you are so lucky! It must look beautiful to have so many of them.
Too bad they don't last longer. Mine are all done now.
Man, I was hoping for a definative answer here, because I have the same problem! Mine bloomed great until I cut out and dug up half the clump to divide and give some away...and they haven't bloomed since! I never altered the position of the original plant, and the divisions are blooming for everybody else! Hrumpf! Maybe they're too crowded? Resent disturbance? Moody? (They're certainly making ME moody! :)
HMH - I'll feel a lot better when they are all done blooming around here.
Lisa - don't you wish plants could talk so you could ask them what is their problem? I'd dig them up & replant them, since the divisions seem to have enjoyed that.
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