Hi, Steve. Here in bone-dry California, I never let my potted Haemanthus dry out completely. It damages the bulbs' perennial roots. When they're dormant, I try to give them just enough water to keep the soil from completely drying out (here that means I run the drip lines for about 15 minutes once a week). The plants are in a spot that's fairly shady in summer, so they don't get baked. I don't know how that advice will apply in your part of the country, but if the bulbs are shrinking significantly, that's not a good sign. Mike San Jose, CA