Matt, it just means the bulb is getting too big for its britches, which in this case is a good thing. The outer layer is good and tight, so water shouldn't be able to sneak in. I don't think you can prevent it, it's just part of the growth phase. If your bulb weren't growing or blooming, it wouldn't be prone to split.

K

kaboehm:

Thanks for your comment. I just hate to see it do that. I counted about 6 layers that split and it reaches almost to the basle plate.

Do you think the splitting is because of the scapes or because it took up so much water so quickly or a little of both?

If your whole lot of bulbs is affected from this problem, this is likely indicating a problem with the environmental conditions, including storage. If it is only this kind of Hippeastrum, then a genetic disposition in it is brought to light by your environmental conditions, and I would be inclined to exchange it with another white cultivar. IMHO Intokazi is a good one.

hawed:

This is the only bulb that I have had the splitting happen to. My other bulbs don't split. I would probably keep it and get a new white cultivar too. It always blooms well for me despite the splitting...but it gets TALL!...at least 3 feet! I would much rather have something that is a little shorter. I started growing my bulbs in larger pots (about 1 gal) a few years ago and have seen a tremendous boost in their size, growth, and blooming. This will be the second year in a row that this 'White Christmas' has produced 2 scapes.

My bulbs also have the same problem in rainy season. My friend told me that it's too much water.

Nititii:

That's kind of what I was thinking. It's just like a tomato. Tomatoes will split open if they get too much water right after a period of dryness.

Ruby Star, my largest bulb of the 2018 season at 40.3 cm, is showing signs of splitting right down the center. Difficult to see in the photo, but there are 2 necks, each with their own set of leaves emerging from different locations.

Adding to Nititii's suggestions of too much water, it has been exceptionally rainy this Winter here in Southern California and this pot is at the edge of the balcony so does get some rain water. I bottom water yet the topsoil is still wet in the pics from the last rainfall.

Brian Sakamoto (10a, CA, USA)

you have to rotate your container more often to avoid sideway growth ?

yovan, I don't rotate and allow leaves to reach out for any sunlight off the balcony.

Donna,

I couldn't agree with you more and I would do the same thing :-))))

Brian this is maybe a red blotch- problem, because the bulb shows signs of an infection.

Frank, I think that sometimes the dried, dead material tends to photograph more red than brown giving the bulb the look that it might have red blotch.

From my laptop Brian's Ruby Star looks fine, just with a bit of dead material that could be picked off the bulb.

Just my opinion of course, you may of course, be correct! ;-)

Donna

Yes, the bulb was brown and firm and seemingly healthy. I'll let you guys know if it goes soft.

Anyhow, Donna do these splitting bulbs stop flowering for a few years? Hope not.

My Evergreen bulb splitted two years ago and had a scape from both bulbs last year. They are still together in the same pot but show no signs of scapes yet.

Brian,

Several months ago, I had a bud on one of my joined Cherry Nymphs but the bulb aborted half way out of the bulb. This sad situation however, happens all too frequently for me. I have a big fat Elvas that sent up a bud that shriveled but now it is sendng up another stronger scape About the same time several months ago, one of my Sweet Lilians did the same... sent up a bud and it withered but now it's sending up another.

I don't know why this happens.

I try not to get too excited when I see a bud peeking out until the bud itself is at least totally out of the bulb.!

The past several comments are a different situation than my original problem. My bulb split because it was growing too fast and cracked open. From the recent pics posted, you all are experiencing bulb division where you will get new plants from the original. My bulb did not divide into new plants, but cracked down one side. It has since recovered. Hope that helps out with any questions.

Update on my splitting bulb. July 3 update followed by August 20.

Brian, looks like you have a nice clump in the making :-)))