by Peggy Williams, THG Garden Consultant

There are some easy steps you can take to have your Amaryllis plant produce its showy trumpets year after year. After the blossoms die, cut the flowers off at the top of the stem. Leave the stem until it begins to wither. This allows the plant to photosynthesize until it too begins to die. Then cut off near the bulb leaving any leaf foliage in tact. You then have a couple of choices:

1.You can treat the amaryllis like a houseplant placing it in a bright, sunny location, such as a sunny south or west window, year round. Fertilize every two to four weeks with a fertilizer such as our SeaResults Micronutrient Solution. Your amaryllis should bloom again each March or early April.

2. If you prefer, you can force the plant into dormancy and time your re-blooming for the holiday season. In this case, follow the steps in 1.

You can even plant your amaryllis in its pot (to retain moisture) in your garden after the last frost. Start off in a shaded place but move gradually to full sun. Then before the first frost in the fall, move the bulbs to a cool, dark place such as a basement or garage. Stop watering entirely. Remove foliage as it dies and browns. After two or three months of dormancy, bring the pot back into sunlight. By watering and fertilizing, you'll start the cycle all over again. In six to eight weeks, your amaryllis should bloom again!

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The NY Times recently featured an article explaining 5 key foods that are worth spending the extra money on organic varieties.

1. Milk: "When you choose a glass of conventional milk, you are buying into a whole chemical system of agriculture,'' says Dr. Greene. People who switch to organic milk typically do so because they are concerned about the antibiotics, artificial hormones and pesticides used in the commercial dairy industry.
2. Potatoes: A simple switch to organic potatoes has the potential to have a big impact because commercially-farmed potatoes are some of the most pesticide-contaminated vegetables.
3. Peanut Butter: More than 99 percent of peanut farms use conventional farming practices, including the use of fungicide to treat mold, a common problem in peanut crops.
4. Ketchup: Recent research has shown organic ketchup has about double the antioxidants of conventional ketchup.
5. Apples: Apples are also one of the most pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables.

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January is the perfect month to grow beautiful flowers indoors. Ask your Garden Consultant for ordering details.