Ken, I can only speak for my conditions (greenhouse, NW Arkansas) but I grow species from all 3 genera and they definitely get watered while dormant because they're in among things that aren't dormant and I'm too lazy to keep moving pots around. We try to avoid really soaking them when dormant, but they get some water at least weekly year-round and don't seem to mind, even in the coldest part of the winter when temps at that end on the ground may reach just a few degrees above freezing at night, and the roots don't die back and seem healthy. I do have them in a very freely draining medium. Steve On 6/12/2015 2:37 PM, Kipp McMichael wrote: > Ken, > > South Africa gets, even in most of its summer-dry Mediterranean areas where Amaryllids are most diverse, some summer precipitation. Your plants' need for extra summer water depends on so many things: Which species you grow, the kinds of pots you use, etc. In most general terms, plants in the ground or raised beds do not likely need extra summer water (mine in Berkeley receive none from June to October) and in your climate would likely need protection from summer rain. Plants in pots - especially clay pots or rootbound plants - would almost certainly benefit from a light water every few weeks in the heat of summer. I would suggest a warm/dry dormancy in your greenhouse - in the shade of a dry bench. > > The best way to determine if your plants are happy with this setup is to unpot a plant at the end of summer and see if the roots have died back from the sides/bottom of the pot. If so, the plant was drier than it preferred. If the roots are fine (or coming out the bottom even), the plant likes the treatment. > > -|<ipp > >> From: k.preteroti@verizon.net >> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2015 14:47:06 -0400 >> To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org >> Subject: [pbs] Watering dormant Amaryllidaceae >> >> I realize this is a broad question. Since Amaryllidaceae keep their roots when dormant should they be occasionally lightly watered to keep the roots alive. Say once a month. To narrow down the species in question I am looking at the African species: Haemanthus, Ammocharis and Brunsvigia. A follow up question should their dormancy be cool dry, my basement for example, or warm dry greenhouse. >> >> Ken P >> Old Bridge, NJ >> Zone 6b >> >> >> >> Ken P >> Old Bridge, NJ >> Zone 6b >> _______________________________________________ >> pbs mailing list >> pbs@lists.ibiblio.org >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/