Waxed and Waned

Sticking one’s head in the sand is simply a way to postpone the inevitable. While the appearance of wax coated amaryllis bulbs is nothing new, wishing the trend would go away just hasn’t worked. In fact, waxed bulbs have been selling in markedly increasing numbers for several years.  Emaryllis has finally decided to perform an act of due diligence, and report on the matter, like it or not. Actually mostly the latter.

Here’s the idea. Hippeastrum bulbs are big and juicy. They are capable of emerging from a period of dry, cool storage (which shunts water to flower production rather than foliage) and push flower scapes up and out, even without functioning roots. But who would buy a dry bulb and just let it do that? It would never stand upright, and the whole affair would be rather grim. Cue the Dutch producers of said bulbs, who sell them by the hundreds of thousands yearly. Why not gussie these beasts of burden up in colorful holiday attire, and present them as the ultimate in floral simplicity? No water, no care needed. The spectacle of growth and bloom in one’s darkened winter interior, just when spirits need a lift the most. Enter a new category of sales; the amaryllis novelty. Easy, fun, and best of all for future sales, deliberately disposable. 

Around Thanksgiving 2018 here in the U.S., a stop at a major big box store (Lowe’s in this case) resulted in a purchase deemed resonable enough in price ($14) to build on the Emaryllis tradition of box kit critique with an updated take. Here is our subject, purchased 22 November, 2018:

So that’s our “kit,” just remove from plastic cylinder and incorporate into your holiday decorating scheme and you are off and running. Please do give it a bright spot though, it is still a living plant. What? They need some sort of care? Oh, Emaryllis, you are such a buzzkill.

This is actually working pretty well it would seem. Why has Emaryllis been so unwilling to embrace this concept? I’ll tell you why. A knowledge of biological sciences (horticulture in particular). This flowering looks OK, but in actuality the flowers are not opening as fully as they should, and they are most definitely not lasting as long as normal. Pollen shedding is significant, something usually associated with potted bulbs that haven’t rooted in yet. Therein lies the rub. While the bulb scales are allocating moisture reserves to the flowering process in order to hopefully produce seed, there just isn’t as much as there should be if even marginally functioning roots were able to as is often the case for newly potted dry bulbs. Nevertheless, it is making a valiant effort, and Christmas flowers (whatever the quality) were had.

Here’s a quandry I don’t think marketers have thought about beyond the initial point of sale. If one buys these at the approach of the winter holidays, will such obviously “Christmassy” novelties be appreciated as they continue to hobble along so long after holiday decor has been put back in storage? Poinsettia growers trying to market out of season have already answered that question. In trying to sell pink cultivars for Valentine’s Day for example, the public wasn’t having it. Poor sales answered with a resounding “no, thanks.” Emaryllis is currently hiding that wood-mounted novelty on a floor register well out of sight, hoping the increased heat will speed that last scape along. And as for the red and white waxed bulb? Time for surgery.

There you have it. Is Emaryllis going to judge you for trying one of these, or for gifting it to another? Only a little. While the bulb industry (and many other plant industries) prospers on disposable crops, these amaryllis bulbs can offer so much more in terms of performance under better conditions. This would not be ideal for gifting to a child; nothing is to be learned by watching something with the potential to thrive and even bloom another year simply go into the waste bin once finished. Long live the box kit in that arena! Cut flowers are probably a better way to give the gift of seasonal, fleeting cheer without guilt. As a bonus, most amaryllis flowers in last longer as cuts than they do when connected to the bulb!

All said, as a product that keeps an innovative horticultural industry profitable, I can’t rail against this trend in a high-handed way. Still, I hope it doesn’t diminish people’s view of the noble amaryllis as beacon of the winter doldrums when they can truly amaze and delight with just a little bit of effort. If you want to know just how far this concept is going, check here, and let us know what you think in the comments.

*Update 2020! What a difference a year makes. ‘Olaf’ was re-homed into a very small pot…the better to quickly fill with roots, and thereby fertilize and water frequently. The plant grew vigorously outdoors through the summer of 2019. After a cool dry rest, it began pushing scapes in January 2020. By late February we have what you see below…a nearly perfect example of what a happy ‘Olaf’ amaryllis can do. Perhaps we don’t have to think of waxed amaryllis bulbs as disposable after all 🙂