Among the bulbous plants that we can plant in the garden or enjoy inside the house, the amaryllis has a privileged place for its extraordinary beauty. However, we can encounter some problems in its cultivation. One of the most common is that the amaryllis Amaryllis only produces leaves.
Is this happening to you? Are you unable to get your plant to bloom? Let's see what the source of the problem may be and what can be done to fix it.
When and how does amaryllis bloom?
Before analyzing whether your plant has any problems, it is a good idea to know a little more about its flowering.
As a rule, amaryllis blooms between spring and summerHowever, depending on the variety and the growing conditions, flowering may be induced at other times of the year, especially if grown as an indoor plant.
The flowering process of this plant is divided into several phases:
- The flower stem emerges. A robust, upright stem emerges from the bulb. This flower scape grows rapidly and can reach a considerable height.
- Development of flower buds. At the top of the stem or flower scape, flower buds form, which start out small and compact, but then become increasingly larger and take on a rounded shape.
- Opening of the flowers. When the flower buds are fully developed, we finally see the large, colorful flowers that are the hallmark of amaryllis.
- The flowers can be red, pink, orange, white or bicolor, and are characterized by having six tepals (indistinguishable petals and sepals).
- Flowering lasts between two and six weeks, depending on the type of amaryllis and environmental conditions.
Why does amaryllis only produce leaves?
There are several reasons that can explain the lack of flowering:
Lack of rest
Bulbous plants need to go through a dormant phase. A clear sign that they are about to do so is that the leaves turn yellow and fall off.
This does not indicate the death of the plant, but rather that it is moving into a phase in which it will concentrate all its resources on the bulb to emerge stronger the following season.
If our amaryllis does not enter the dormant phase (this can happen if we have it as an indoor plant), can't recharge energy and therefore may not flower the following season.
To force the dormant period, once flowering has passed, Reduce watering and place the pot in a cool, dark place for a few weeks. You will notice that the leaves are yellowing and falling off, and in this case, this is a good sign.
Bulb too small
The bulb is responsible for storing energy so that, when the time comes, the stem and the flowers emerge. It is something like the battery of the plant, and without it it will not work properly.
If the bulb is small, not only will you not see flowers, you may also notice that the leaves are small and weak and that the stem is not very resistant.
This problem has no quick solution, the only thing we can do is take measures to encourage its development:
- Water the bulb properly, avoiding waterlogging, but keeping the substrate slightly moist.
- Provides a liquid fertilizer during the period of active growth.
- Place the plant in a bright place, but without it receiving direct light.
Excess irrigation
If the amaryllis only produces leaves, one of the causes of this phenomenon may be that you are watering the plant too much and the bulb cannot absorb nutrients it needs to flourish.
Overwatering causes these symptoms:
- Yellowed leaves.
- Premature leaf drop.
- Flowering stem with a weak appearance.
- Musty smell in the substrate.
- Soft bulb or with dark spots because it is rotting.
If you have overwatered, you can take these steps:
- Reduces watering significantly. Allow the substrate to dry completely between waterings.
- Check the drainage capacity of the pot and the substrate. If necessary, add a little sand or gravel to the bottom of the pot to facilitate water drainage.
- Remove the bulb if you suspect it is rotting., let it dry and replant it in dry, quality substrate.
Lack of nutrients causes amaryllis to only produce leaves
Nutrients are the food of plants. Therefore, if the amaryllis bulb is not well "fed" it will not have the strength to produce flowers.
In addition to the lack of flowering, symptoms such as yellowing leaves or weak growth also warn that the plant is lacking nutrients.
The solution is to use a Specific fertilizer for bulbous plants that is balanced in its proportion of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Apply it during the active growing season, following the manufacturer's instructions.
In any case, avoid fertilizing during the plant's dormant phase, because this can be counterproductive to its health.
Lack of light
The most obvious sign that the amaryllis is not receiving enough light is the absence of flower stems. If flowers do appear, they will be small and weak.
Plants need light to to photosynthesize and get energy. If your amaryllis doesn't get enough light, it can't trigger the chemical reactions that stimulate flower bud formation.
In these cases it is advisable that you put the pot near a south or west facing window. If you don't have enough natural light at home, you can use grow lights.
Also, remember to rotate the pot regularly so that the plant receives light evenly from all sides.
You can also prune stems that you see are too long and weak to encourage more vigorous and compact growth.
If your amaryllis only produces leaves, it means that something is wrong with the care you are giving it. Now that you know what it is, you have to get to work to solve the problem.