Fun Experience to Grow Hippeastrum

The common name of genus Hippeastrum is Amaryllis. 

The common name "amaryllis" has been used for Hippeastrum for years, especially for the ornamental cultivars (sold as indoor flowering bulbs around November and December, for Christmas, in the Northern Hemisphere). -- Source: Wikipedia.

For many years there was confusion among botanists over the generic names Amaryllis and Hippeastrum, one result of which is that the common name 'amaryllis' is mainly used for cultivars of the genus Hippeastrum, widely sold in the winter months for their ability to bloom indoors.

Plants of the genus Amaryllis are known as belladonna lily, Jersey lily, naked lady, amarillo, Easter lily in Southern Australia or, in South Africa, March lily due to its propensity to flower around March. This is one of numerous genera with the common name 'lily' due to their flower shape and growth habit. However, they are only distantly related to the true lily, Lilium. In the Victorian language of flowers, amaryllis means "love, beauty, and determination", and can also represent hope and achievement.^[3] -- Source: Wikipedia.

One of my husband's friends at his work gave Red Amaryllis Growing Kit as a Christmas gift in 2021 and 2022. I planted the first growing kit and bloomed successfully during winter. The second growing kit, I planted it three weeks ago. The condition of its bulb was not good. I could tell it was dying as I stored it more than one year in the car trunk, but I believed I could grow it well, just it needed more time. I was right. In more than a week, it showed the sign of life. 

I took several pictures of my Amaryllis plants last Monday, February 26 and today February 29.

Left: Amaryllis 2 years old, bloomed this month, February 2024.
Right: Amaryllis 2 weeks old. 
This photo was taken on February 26, 2024.

Taken on Monday, February 26, 2024.

Taken on Monday, February 26, 2024.

Taken on Monday, February 26 2024.

Taken on Thursday, February 29, 2024.

Taken on Thursday, February 29, 2024.

Hippeastrum
Hippeastrum reginae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily:	Amaryllidoideae
Subtribe:	Hippeastrinae
Genus:	Hippeastrum Herb.[1][2][3]
Type species
Hippeastrum reginae (L.) Herb.[4]
Subgenera
Tocantinia (Ravenna) Nic.García Hippeastrum
Synonyms[5]
List

Source: Wikipedia

My Fifth Flower Collection

My fifth flower collection is Hibiscus kokio or Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Its famous name is Hibiscus Hawaiian Punch. It is a shrub or small tree with red to orangish (rarely yellow) flowers. This endemic species is not officially listed, but considered rare in nature. When the first time I saw it at Home Depot last Wednesday, August 21, 2019, I said to my husband that it was the hibiscus I was looking for. I was so happy to get this orange color which is not many we can find it. Usually many blue or purple or pink color.

I gave this flower to my daughter as a special gift of what she already accomplishes. She reached Distinguish Honors for all semesters in 9th grade. CONGRATULATIONS, our Little Mermaid!

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Brilliant'
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Genus:	Hibiscus
Species:	H. rosa-sinensis
Binomial name
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.
Synonyms[1]
Hibiscus arnottii Griff. ex Mast. Hibiscus boryanus DC. Hibiscus cooperi auct. Hibiscus festalis Salisb. Hibiscus liliiflorus Griff. ex Mast. Hibiscus rosiflorus Stokes Hibiscus storckii Seem.

Source: Wikipedia

Fun Experiment to Grow Hydrangea

This is not my first experiment. I grew Hydrangea arborescens (Annabelle) from bare root for the first time in early autumn 2005 at the front yard at our new house. In the second year the flowers started to grow. More year, more flower grew. In the third year, I had an idea to do an experiment by doing vegetative reproduction from strong stems. I planted several stems and they grew successfully. Even I grew the biggest Hydrangea ever--almost 30 cm in diameter. WOW! I cut several of the biggest flowers and dried them. I still have them now in the vase on the top of my refrigerator.

Because of that great experiment, when we moved to other renovated house in early winter 2011, I cut couple of strong stems and planted them in the pots. In early spring they grew and I transplanted them on the ground (back yard). The first year of growing, a neighbor whom we paid to cut the grass had cut them all when he was cutting the grass in our back yard. He thought they were weeds. I was very mad and almost cried. We decided not to use him anymore to cut the grass in our backyard. I could not believe it if he wasn't able to recognize the plants and the weeds, and even they grew on the neat spot that everyone would know if someone had planted them.

Anyway, I had to wait again for another year to grow. Finally, only one that could survive. I took care of it very carefully and didn't want it die because it had memory from our old house. In the following year, the flowers started to grow. Not many, only couple flowers. I was so happy! I did the several vegetative reproductions again and recently I have five beautiful Hydrangea plants.

This year is the third year of my Hydrangea growing. I enclose some pictures below of the third year of my Hydrangea. During late spring till early autumn, I always have them in the vase in my living room or dinning room. I also gave some to my neighbors. This made them so happy.

Enjoy the flowers!

First picture taken in spring (May 2017)

Second picture taken: about a week after the first picture.

 

Third picture taken: about several days after the second picture.

Third picture was taken from different angle.

Beautiful Hydrangea in the vase.

Hydrangea arborescens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Cornales
Family:	Hydrangeaceae
Genus:	Hydrangea
Species:	H. arborescens
Binomial name
Hydrangea arborescens [1] L. Source: Wikipedia

Fun Experiment to Grow Cosmos

I got cosmos seeds from my sister in law, Cathy, several years ago. She used to send any kind of seeds since she knew I liked gardening. Last year I planted several cosmos seeds and when they bloomed, I cut some of their good-looking flowers and displayed them in the living room.

It wasn't difficult to grow this plant and it didn't need a lot of works to take care of it. I watered with washing rice at least once per week and gave little bit of fertilizer, contained Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). I also removed faded flowers routinely so it would stimulate other new flowers blooming. If the plants grew tall, I would need staking them.

Try it and have fun!

Cosmos
Cosmos bipinnatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Subfamily:	Asteroideae
Tribe:	Coreopsideae
Genus:	Cosmos Cav.[1]
Synonyms[2]
Cosmea Willd. Adenolepis Less. Cosmus Pers. Cosmos sect. Eucosmos Sherff Gosmos Motomi Ito, spelling variant, apparently accidental

Source: Wikipedia