From our perspective, water is life, but it is also a primary cause of our demise. Many caretakers, with the best intentions, subject us to either a deluge or a drought. Immediately after planting, a thorough watering is welcome to encourage our roots to stretch into the new soil. However, constant sogginess is a death sentence. Our bulb, which is our stored energy and life force, will begin to rot in waterlogged conditions, suffocating and making us vulnerable to fungal diseases. The key is to provide water only when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. After our flowering stalk emerges, maintain even moisture, but never let us sit in a saucer of standing water.
Once our green shoot breaks the soil's surface, our sole purpose is to photosynthesize and create a strong, sturdy stem to support our magnificent bloom. If we are placed in a dim corner, we are forced to stretch and strain desperately towards any available light source. This results in a weak, leggy, and pale stalk that often topples under the weight of our own flowers. To build a robust stem, we require bright, indirect light from the moment we show signs of growth. A south or west-facing window is ideal. Rotate our pot regularly to ensure we grow straight and do not lean excessively towards the light.
This is perhaps the most common and critical mistake. We are not meant to grow and flower year-round. After our blooms fade, we enter a crucial growth phase where our leaves work tirelessly to recharge our bulb with energy. If you cut these leaves off prematurely, you starve us. This phase must be followed by a period of rest—our dormancy. Without this 8-10 week period of cool, dark, and dry conditions, we become exhausted. We cannot muster the energy to produce a new flower stalk. To see us bloom again, you must allow us to rest and reset, mimicking the dry season of our native habitat.
Our comfort and stability are directly tied to our pot. A pot that is excessively large forces our roots to expend too much energy navigating vast amounts of soil, often leading to rot before they can establish themselves. We prefer a cozy home; the ideal pot is only about 1-2 inches wider than our bulb. Furthermore, a pot without drainage holes is a prison that condemns us to rot. We require excellent drainage above all else. When repotting, do not bury us completely. Leave the top third to half of our bulb exposed above the soil line to prevent rot and allow us to breathe.
Your job is not done once our spectacular flowers wither. This is when our real work begins. The period after blooming is when we gather strength for next year's show. If you discard us or neglect us post-bloom, you are wasting our potential. Continue to water and feed us with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks throughout the spring and summer. Our long, strap-like leaves are solar panels, absorbing sunlight and converting it into energy that is stored directly in the bulb. This careful attention after the flowers are gone is what guarantees we can perform for you again.
