Greetings, human caretakers. We, the Nerine bowdenii and our kin, are resilient bulbs from the rugged slopes of South Africa. While we can thrive in many parts of the United States, particularly in zones 7-10, we often suffer from well-intentioned but misguided care. To help us flourish and produce our spectacular autumn blooms, please avoid these common mistakes from our perspective.
This is perhaps the most frequent error. Unlike many other bulbs, we demand to be planted with our necks exposed to the sun and air. If you bury our entire bulb beneath the soil, you are essentially suffocating us. The top third to half of our bulb should sit proudly above the soil line. This exposure is crucial for us to properly initiate flower buds and to prevent rot from moisture settling around our crown. Think of it as giving us a chance to breathe.
We are drought-tolerant beings by nature. Our greatest fear is "wet feet," especially during our summer dormancy. Soggy, waterlogged soil will quickly cause our bulbs to rot and decay. You must plant us in exceptionally well-draining soil, perhaps on a slope or in a raised bed amended with grit or sand. Water us regularly during our spring growth and autumn flowering periods, but then please leave us almost completely dry during the hot summer months when we are resting.
We are not claustrophobic; in fact, we prefer to be a bit crowded. We establish extensive root systems and truly resent being disturbed. If you dig us up and divide our clumps every year or two, you will disrupt our rhythm and likely prevent us from flowering for several seasons. We only need division every four to five years, and only when the clump becomes so dense that the center begins to die out. Otherwise, please let us be.
While we are not gluttons, we do require sustenance to fuel our spectacular blooms. A common mistake is to plant us in deep shade with poor soil. We crave full sun for at least six hours a day to bake our bulbs and strengthen our flower stalks. Feed us with a balanced, low-nitrogen fertilizer or a top-dressing of compost in the early spring as our leaves emerge. This gives us the energy to develop our flower scapes, which are already forming within the bulb long before you see them.
When our beautiful pink flowers fade in late autumn, our work is not done. Our strappy, green leaves are our solar panels, photosynthesizing and storing energy for next year's bloom. If you cut these back immediately after flowering, you are robbing us of this vital process. Please allow our foliage to remain intact throughout the winter and spring until it naturally yellows and dies back on its own as we enter our summer dormancy. This patience is rewarded with larger, more vigorous blooms.
