St Joseph's Lily

patgourney · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 7:28 pm Post subject: St Joseph's Lily

Two years ago I was given a St. Josephs lily in a 12" pot. This plant produces just one beautiful flower every year around this time (Sept.). I would like to know
(1) Is this the maximum flowering potential of this plant as there is a lot of green stems in the pot ?
(2) The Bulbs appear swollen and bulging out of the soil in the pot and I am wondering if the content of the pot could be taken from the pot and planted in the ground?
(3) Could I take one of the off shoots from the main bulb and re-plant in another pot without damaging the main bulb and if so when would be a good time to do this?
As I don't have much gardening knowledge I would appreciate any advice as I particulary like the flower from this plant and would like to develop same.

avs0020 · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 6:21 pm Post subject:

I am sorry no one has answered this for you. I'm keen to know the answer myself. My only knowledge of this plant was back in S.A. when it did flower profusely but I cant say if that's because of the increased heat and sun. i suppose if you treat the bulb like any other bulb peeling off one of shoots would be done after flowering?? Good luck with this

patgourney · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 7:39 pm Post subject:

Thanks very much for replying. I am hoping that when gardeners become more active again in the spring that someone will respond to my post. Happy New Year to you and thanks again

Greengage · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 7:33 pm Post subject:

How did I miss this post.
If you have a St Josephs Lily you then have Hippeastrum x johnsonii red in flower. But you may just have an Amaryllis belladona either white or pink red again but, St Josephs lily is a hardy one so the book says but hardy where. I have never seen one growing outside in Ireland.
They are usually available in garden centres around this time of year or earlier in some of the better ones as a large bulb. It is best planted tightly in a pot which should see it flowering around November December, All parts are pisonious and some people can be allergic to touching it like Hyacinths. It is suitable for indoor planting and needs regular watering but not overwatering (Dont they all). It can be propogated by offsets from the main bulb after flowering but will take some time to mature and flower again. Hope this helps.

patgourney · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:43 pm Post subject:

Thank you very much for this Greengage. I has a red flower and I keep it in a pot outside which now seems like the wrong thing to do and I must say it is not looking too healthy at the monent. One flower from the plant with so much foliage is dissappointing. It is a lovely flower all the same. Thanks again for the advice.