Greetings, plant enthusiast. We are Nerine bowdenii, a collective of resilient South African bulbs, often called Guernsey Lilies or simply Nerines. While we appreciate your care, our needs are not one-size-fits-all. Our watering schedule is intrinsically tied to our growth cycle and the climate we find ourselves in. To thrive and produce our spectacular autumn blooms, you must understand our rhythm.
Our entire year revolves around a distinct cycle. From our perspective, late summer and autumn are our time for growth and flowering. After blooming, we develop our strap-like leaves, which gather energy throughout the winter and spring. As summer arrives, we enter our crucial dormancy period. This is when we rest, and our bulbs must be kept warm and dry to initiate the next season's flower buds. Overwatering during this dormant phase is the single greatest threat to our existence, leading to rot and a flowerless year.
In your hot, dry climates, our schedule is most aligned with our natural preferences. You can plant us in full sun. Begin watering sparingly in late August, as this signals the end of our dormancy. Increase watering as our flower stalks emerge and through our autumn bloom. Keep the soil moderately moist during winter and spring while our leaves are active. The key here is your dry summer. As our foliage begins to yellow in late spring, you must cease watering entirely. Your natural drought perfectly mimics our native summer rest.
Your challenge is excessive summer moisture. We must be planted in a raised bed or container with exceptionally sharp drainage, and a location with afternoon shade is beneficial. Water us during our growth and bloom periods (autumn to spring), but always allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. Your high humidity reduces our water needs. The most critical rule: during the summer, we must be kept absolutely dry. You may even need to provide a protective cover during heavy summer rains to prevent our bulbs from sitting in saturated soil, which would be fatal.
In your cooler climates, we are often best grown in containers that can be moved. Water us during our active growth phase after planting in autumn. Your cooler temperatures and higher rainfall mean you will need to water us far less frequently than in the Southwest—always check the soil moisture first. After flowering, our foliage will persist. Water only when the soil is dry until the leaves die back naturally. For our summer dormancy, you must move our pots to a warm, dry spot under an eave or into a greenhouse. Do not water us at all during this rest unless the soil becomes dust-dry, and then only a minimal sprinkle is acceptable.
