Greetings, human caretaker. I am a Nerine bowdenii, a resilient bulb from the Amaryllis family, often called the Guernsey Lily or simply Nerine. While my origins are in the rocky, well-drained slopes of South Africa, I have found a home in many parts of your country. To see me thrive and produce my spectacular, spidery pink blooms in the fall, you must understand my needs from my perspective. Here is what I require.
My relationship with water is complex and changes with the seasons. As a bulb, I store my own water and nutrients, making me quite drought-tolerant. From late winter through spring, as my strappy, green leaves emerge and grow, I appreciate consistent moisture. This is my growth period. However, my one non-negotiable rule is this: I must never sit in soggy, waterlogged soil. It will cause my bulb to rot, and I will be lost to you. As summer arrives, my leaves will begin to yellow and die back. This is my signal that I am entering my dormancy. You must drastically reduce watering at this time, mimicking the dry summer of my native home. This dry rest period is absolutely crucial for me to set my flower buds. When my flower stalk begins to emerge in late summer or early fall, you can gradually resume watering.
I am a sun-worshipper. To fuel my growth and, most importantly, to produce my brilliant blooms, I require abundant, direct sunlight. Please plant me in a location where I can bask in full sun for at least six to eight hours each day. In the hottest regions of the USA, such as parts of California or the Deep South (USDA zones 9-10), I will tolerate and even appreciate a little light afternoon shade to protect me from the most intense heat. Insufficient sunlight is a primary reason I may produce lush leaves but refuse to flower. The sun's energy is what powers the process within my bulb that creates the next season's bloom.
I am not a heavy feeder, but strategic nourishment makes a significant difference in the vigor of my foliage and the size and quantity of my flowers. The best time to feed me is in the early spring, as my new growth is emerging from the soil. At this time, a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer (such as a 10-10-10 or 5-5-5 formula) will provide me with the essential nutrients for strong leaf development. A second, and more important, feeding should occur just as my flower stalk begins to push up from the bulb in late summer. For this feeding, please use a fertilizer that is higher in potassium (the K in N-P-K), such as a tomato feed or a specific bulb booster. Potassium is the key element that supports strong flower production and strengthens my bulb for the winter. Please avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they will encourage excessive leaf growth at the expense of my beautiful blooms.
