What makes Amaryllis hybrids bloom?
Jane McGary (Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:13:45 PDT)

Michael Mace wrote:

This is true of bulbous plants in various areas subject to extreme
drought, including native bulbs in California (especially southern
California) and in northern Chile. Another amaryllid that can be
adduced as an example is Rhodophiala bagnoldii, the common species of
northern Chile. After an El Nino rainfall year, I saw vast colonies
of it in flower there, but after a series of dry years the only ones
in flower were in a plantation of young olive trees that were being
drip-irrigated.

The last time I went to Chile we had hoped for another El Nino
flowering, but the weather pattern that seemed to be forming when we
made our plans (too early!) fizzled out, and flowering was poor
except in the coastal areas of the "fog desert." The next time I head
for the Atacama, I'll be sure not to buy any plane tickets until I
know it's been raining.

Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA