You didn't start it too late necessarily. It's not unheard of for a bulb not too bloom the first year you receive it. There could be several reasons for that to happen... bulb not old enough, the way it was grown previously, the scape drying up inside the bulb from stress of digging/shipping, etc. Hopefully it will bloom well for you next year.

Good luck! :)

Nancy

That bulb's neck is a mess. If it were mine, in the fall, I'd trim it back to give next year's scapes plenty of room to emerge.

mitsukiwi , my bulb bloomed first year but the flowers were significantly smaller than this year.

kaboehm (zone 9a, TX USA) , is that really necessary?

I have about 700 Hippeastrum. This is part of MY autumn program. You can do as much or as little as you want. Our motto is: Do whatever work for you.

I had written a much longer message with more detail, but Houzz said it couldn't be updated right then....and I lost my response.

So the neck is a mess, I need to trim it? Like cut it back in the fall to the bulb or just above it?

Thats the same type and brand of amaryllis that i got from walmart last november. Luckily mine did have one stalk.

Thank you, Kaboehm - I read your post, then lurked through some other posts, especially of people's blooming crosses - wow! Are they easy to breed? I don't know anyone who does, but I know lots of people around here who pull them out of their garage or basement and force a bloom every winter! I will have to lurk a bit more in the "Hippi" forum, learn some more. Like I need another hobby, or fanciful dream - I thought I would breed iris and daylilies for fun, too!

They are dead easy to breed, but it takes around 3 years from seedling to flower, so you have to have patience. Good luck!

thanks everyone!!!