All bulbs draw on their food reserves to make new leaves, so this would account for some shrinking of the bulb. Most commercially offered Hippeastrums also have had their roots removed, so they also have to draw on stored reserves to make new roots. This is a huge draw off the bulb, so no wonder it gets smaller! Just think of those big leaves, and the roots, plus the flower and flower stem -- where does the energy come from to make them?? From the bulb; therefore the bulb shrinks. This happens normally, and that is what those food reserves in the bulb are for. Food reserves are then replaced through photosynthesis of the leaves. They shouldn't get smaller every year, though, and if they do they are not being fertilized enough and possibly are planted in too small a pot. It takes at least two years for a commercially grown Hippeastrum minus its roots to recover and make another flower bud, which will not show up until the third year. Diana Telos Rare Bulbs