Hippeastrum Cybister Potting Mix
Hans-Werner Hammen (Sun, 29 May 2005 13:34:18 PDT)

I am growing H.cybister "Chico" with geat success.
Funy; I never performed so much thoughts what substrate should be used!

I use coco peat prepared from these "coco bricks" for all my 4- and 2-ploid
hippeastrums, including H.aulicum v.robustum. I can only praise it for its
outstanding properties in cleanlyness from dirt, pests and diseases, its
easy handling and its physical property of softness and structure stability,
yes; and extreme fast water motility.

As I learnt from elsewhere
http://amaryllidaceae.org/Hippeastrum/…
both H."Chico" and H."Reggae" are selections of the "true" species
H.cybister and therefore I can with full right transmit my experience from
Chico in order to make a proposal for the substrate question as regards to
the species.

I wrote about H.cybister"Chico" in the GardenWeb
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/…

I combine and I recommend a 3-action strategy:
use of coco substrate;
carefull watering FROM THE BOTTOM (every 2nd day)
and applying dilute feeding with every watering.

My experiences indicate that the watering technique has a greater influence
on cultivation success than the use of a high-sophistically formulated
substrate.
H.cybister is not such a heavy water consumer.
The surface of the substrate should remain completely dry (bright). Dark wet
spots on the surface indicate overwateríng.
It is clear that exlusive watering from the bottom can only be performed
under glass or indoors.
On the other hand, considering that the majority of commerciably available
hippeastrum bulbs is infested with the tarsonemid mite, the bulb scale mite
Steneotarsonermus laticeps, it is not wise to let EVER get water into the
heart of the plant...
Yes H.cybister is a tiny treasure which is worth not to be let stood in the
rain...

Hans-Werner