Rhodophiala 2016

[fermi de Sousa]

We were given this form of Rhodophiala bifida a couple of years ago and it has settled down to produce 2 spikes this year! It's in a raised bed which got some water recently and I think that's why it blooming so early - the other forms are in dried beds and aren't above ground yet,
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Fermi,

What a striking red.

I can hardly wait for some of our Rhodophiala species to come to maturity.

[zephirine]

I planted Rhodophiala bifida in my zone 7B garden in january 2008 (from Bulbargence origin).
In a clayish, poorly drained soil, without any protection whatsoever, and in the bed where the water stays longest when we have heavy rain.
I guess it was a silly thing to plant it there, but at that time I had found very little information about it...
The funny thing is that it is still there!
It has only flowered twice, in september 2008 of course, and again in september 2013. But the leaves are present every year (they are still present today).
It has gone very bravely through our terrible 2012 february, when after a very mild january we suddenly had temps below 0°C day and night during 3 weeks, with a record at -19°C.
I had hoped for flowers last september, since summer 2016 has been particularly hot and dry, but no sign of flowers... maybe this year?
I never fed it, but since you seem to know it well, maybe you can tell me when and how to give it better flowering conditions... in the open I mean!
Thanks in advance
Zephirine

[johnralphcarpenter]

The bulb which I bought from Himalayan Gardens as Hippeastrum (Rhodophiala) rosea is flowering again. They have sent me a replacement so we will see if that turns out to be the true species.

[Maggi Young]

Just correcting a typo in the thread title.

[fermi de Sousa]

I hadn't noticed that these Rhodophiala bifida were in bloom until Will told me - why are they trying to impersonate a crocus?
cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

Envy, fermi? After all,  crocus are one of the highest forms of  plantlife! 

[fermi de Sousa]

 
Extremely dry conditions may be closer to the answer, Maggi,
cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

Oh, fermi,  what a spoilsport - no need to  ruin a good story with the truth! 

[fermi de Sousa]

I hadn't noticed that these Rhodophiala bifida were in bloom until Will told me - why are they trying to impersonate a crocus?

A week or so later and the scapes have extended - we did get an inch of rain in the interim so that might be why these later blooms are a bit taller (but not as tall as normal); the first pic was taken in the morning and the next in the evening,
cheers
fermi