Hi Julia, the FAQ is right here: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/amaryllishippeastrum/msg0116374027685.html?10

Why move the bulb out of direct sunlight? Now that it will produce leaves you should leave it there. Be aware of overwatering and you should be good. Good luck!

I'm having trouble getting that link to work. It gives me an error saying it does not match any documents??

Thanks
Julia

Hello Julia, The only time you should move your plant out of direct sunlight is when the flower itself is blooming! The bulb and leaves need sunlight, the more the better! The FAQ is on the first page of the forum, you should be able to find it. The one with the died back flower stalk, could it have already bloomed(?) or is the bud shriveled up which can happen sometimes if the bulb is stressed, but the bulb should still live, and may have another bud that may bloom later. As stated above, be careful not to over water it, especially when it has few or no leaves. Good Luck!

Donna

Julia, The FAQ is half way down on the first page.

Donna: Thanks for the confirmation.

The flower will probably open fully within the week and I don't know where I read or heard that you needed to move it out of direct sunlight once it blooms. That bulb has 2 flower stalks. The other stalk is pretty far down yet and I can only see the bud. How will moving it out of direct sunlight affect the second bud?

I don't know about the other bulb as it was given to me and I would have assumed it bloomed as it looks like the original leaves and scape was cut back.

Disappointed with my first bulb I got when it just grew leaves and no flower stalk.

Now don't laugh at my next question, but when the bulbs bloom again, will the new stalks come from the same place as the old ones grew from?

Thanks for all the patience and help.
Julia

The buds aren't affected by light, they are predetermined in the bulb and come out when the conditions are right. They need some moisture for enlongation so that they don't have to use all the bulbs resources and warmth.

No, you have to picture the bulb, like an onion. There is the main shortened stem inside. The bottom part of the leaves makes the bulbs layers. In each axilary of the leaves a bud might appear but it only does for ever forth leaf.
So for every leaf that appears out of the bulb a new layer is developed. For each 4 leaves you can count 1 flowering stake.

So what is important if you want your bulbs to flower again is to have them grow as many leaves as possible. The buds inside are resting over the growth period where they where predetermined. When the bulb goes into the resting period these axilary buds are developed into flowering buds.

Okay, I think I've got it. When the flower opens fully, I'll take a pic and post. The outer covering (don't know what else to call it) has been pulling away from the bud to reveal the petals.Looks to be a red one. Exciting to see the stages its going through to get to that point.

Thanks again for the help.

Julia

found some real easy instructions

Here is a link that might be useful: Click here

It opened.
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Thanks for all the help. Nice to have something blooming indoors.
Julia