Hi! Welcome to the group.

While the bulbs from Lowe's may be common, and they aren't typically the best quality available, they can be a good starting point for practice. ALTHOUGH, I would say that starting with the best possible quality will do more to ensure you success.

Here are a few questions to you:
Do the pots have good drainage?
Overwatering is probably the fastest way to kill a bulb. Some people water one time and then not again until they see good signs of growth. After that they water weekly.

The red likely isn't a sign of virus, although those inexpensive bulbs tend to have more virus than other bulbs. Virus shows up on the leaves as a mosaic pattern. It could be a fungus, which will thrive in warm and moist conditions. Do you have access to any antifungal powder (Captan or in a pinch, cinnamon) or an antifungal solution? It would be good to soak these bulbs in an antifungal or dust them liberally and let them dry for a couple of days.

Then, replant them and only water them at planting and then once a week.

The basal plate looks very thick, but I wouldn't trim it as the roots look good and there doesn't look like an easy way to trim it without cutting roots.

You can stop touching your bulbs all the time....they don't need it, but if you hear one purr....do let us know!! :-)

You clearly have some bulbs with problems that need to be taken care of, but it is easy to worry too much and fuss over them. Go back a step and work a bit to take care of what you have now (if you lose them, it will be a hard lesson learned). The bulbs that you get from ETGB should be healthier and strong, and as long as you are working with clean supplies (pots/soil/hands) you should have better luck.

Regards,
Kristi

Everything Kristi has suggested is right on. I might only add that the bulbs you will receive from ETGB should and will most likely be in much better condition.

Donnaâºâºâº

Thanks for the wonderful advice. I water the pot from the bottom but I think I might be too eager. As soon as I saw some life I water it every three days. I will dust the bulb tomorrow with cinnamon (just in case). Is cinnamon as effective as antifungal power?

It may have problems near the basal plate because you have it "in warm water". Too much moisture will cause rot, whether in the pot or in a clear container of water. Kristi is right, you might be fussing too much over them. Did you take a look at the FAQ at the top of the list? Lots of good info in there! Good luck!

Hey Salpal....WELCOME BACK!!!!
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Kristi

Just received my bulbs from ETGB. The bulbs are wonderful. My papillio is pregnant! When I look closer, I think it also have 4 more babies. They are firmly pointing downward. Would they move upward when I planted them? Five babies to one mother, is that to much for the mother?

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Just leave them and carefully plant the bulb. This is s good photo that shows how basal plate damage can stimulate the bulb to produce offsets.

My friend got a pot of Papilio that had over 60 (as I recall) offsets from the mother bulb. Leave them and they'll grow upwards as the get bigger.

Kristi

Here's the post...there were 66 bulbs in the pot!
K

Here is a link that might be useful: Free bulb story

Seems like a strange time of year to start bulbs. What kind of potting medium are you using?

This is the perfect time to start bulbs inside for blooms during the winter months! In fact, bulb catalogs have been in our hands since June/July for blooms in the next couple of months. Distributors are shipping now so our windows and countertops can be full of amaryllis blooms during the dreary, cold winter months.

After the first winter, mine move outside.
Kristi

I suppose for some bulbs you could start them indoors now. If they're something that was dug up from outdoors recently intended to be planted outside in the fall then they wouldn't really work. It's a seasonal thing but then again, I'm not familiar with that particular bulb.

Cooper- these are hippeastrum bulbs, you really need to stick around and take a look at the beautiful bulbs the people on this forum grow indoors this time of the year and all through he winter. That is why everyone here is so excited.

Hi Kristi! looking forward to your pics!

Cool- I will. Yeah I know you can do that indoors with some bulbs. My mom did that with gravel and water.

Cooper....Please give them soil and a nice pot. Water and gravel doesn't provide the root support or the nutrition that they need!
:-)
Kristi

My bad- I grow Amaryllis Belladona. I didn't recognize the exact bulb shown. Sorry I jumped into the wrong conversation. If anyone needs to know how to grow those outdoors just ask.

We'll get you hooked on Hippeastrum!!!
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Kristi

I finally made it to a greenhouse today and looked at them! Pretty cool- the bulbs were multiplying in the pots with a little bit of leaves showing.

Newbi here to
Who is etgb?

Easytogrowbulbs.com. It's the website where I order my bulbs.