Chilling to Force Hippeastrum Bloom in Tropic

I found Hippeastrum hard to bloom normally in tropic countries where temperature hardly drop below 20 degree celcius.
After some internet search, many website suggest chilling to enforce Hippeastrum to bloom.

At first, I am not too sure on the success rate of forcing, I tried twice and success.

Now i am trying again, with 3 mixed bulbs. The bulb goes into the fridge on 6 Jan 2016.

Some important condition to increase the probability of blooming:
1. Leaves Count
    The plant to be chilled ideally has minimum 6 healthy leaves.  More leaves means bigger bulb and most probably will give 2 flower stalks.
2.Chilling Period
   The minimum chilling period is 4 weeks, ideally 6 weeks.  Some plants has entered dormant period while in the garden, so they need only 4 weeks in the fridge.  For active growing plant, minimum 6 weeks is required in the fridge.  Plus or minus is 2 weeks more in the fridge, the longer they stay in the fridge means they sleep longer, therefore increase the probability of success of blooming.
3. Bulb Size
    Bigger bulb means more mature bulb. But how big is it ?  The size of the bulb depends on the type of Hippeastrum.  Simphony type with large or super large flower requires minimum bulb 25cm circumference.
Sonatini type (the smallest) requires minimum bulb 15 cm circumference.  The Sonata type requires in between the size of Symphone and Sonatini.  Based on my experience, bulb size over 34 cm in circumference hardly fail to bloom and shall give minimum 2 flower stalks. 
4. The Temperature
    From internet browsing, optimum temperature for chilling is 10 degree celcius.  The compartment in the fridge to store vegetables has ideal temperature for chilling.   Remember do not store the bulb where the temperature could go lower than 5 degree celcius, the bulb will be frozen and perish.
5. Etilene Gas
    Some grower advise to avoid etilene gas during chilling, as this gas will destroy the bud in its initial stage.
Well known fruit that produce this gas is Apple.  Make sure when the chilling is in process, do not store apple in the fridge.  The level of gas affected the bulb.  I think 2 to 3 apples or less than one kilogram does not harm the bulb as long as the fridge door is opened daily to ensure exchanging of air.
6. Dry Bulb
    Remember to dry the bulb before it goes into the fridge.  Humid bulb will trigger bacteria/fungi to grow and the bulb will be rotten.   The best drying method is air dry.  Just dig out the bulb, wash the bulb completely and let the bulb sitting in the porch for 3 to 5 days. Make sure it does not get direct sunlight and the area have good air flow.  If the bulb need to be transported very soon, then 'hair dryer' could be used for a few second.
7. Root
    The decision to leave the root intact depend on the aesthetic look and how has the bloom is expected.
Hippeastrum requires 2 to 3 weeks to grow roots once come out from the fridge.  If the root is left intact, they can absorb nutrient from soil faster and speed up the bloom.  If the bulb will be flowered on water, then some healthy root must be left.  If the bulb to be sold in nice packaging, then the root to be trimmed completely.

Above 7 conditions if fully met, will guarantee the bulb will bloom once chilling process is done.

Hippeastrum Apricot Parfait

Some people think this Hippeastrum has common color, but i found that apricot color is quite rare in hippeastrum. Maybe the color is not bolt enough, so many breeder does not produce this color or its gradation.

My Apricot Parfait, just arrived.  The flower stalk produce 5 Buds, which is above the average of 4.

The first bloom on 21 Jan 2016, photo taken one day later.

Hippeastrum Dancing Queen

I bought this Hippeastrum on Nov 2015 from Poland.  I order one Hippeastrum Double Picotee, but the seller wrongly gave me a Dancing Queen.
The flower stalk grow very fast. Less than 5 days from planting, the flower stalk start to grow. One month later, second stalk emerge.
First stalk gave me only 2 flowers, just wonder how many flower on second stalk.

I plan to post this title next week, when second flower already bloom,  but just realize that i have not post any title in year 2015. Well, this will be the only post for this year then.

The first flower open on 31 Dec 2015

When the bud is half open

 

When in Bud

Hippeastrum Reticulatum Leaves

My neighbor has many of this hippeastrum and when i ask for some bulbs, my neighbor gave me 8 bulbs of various size. The most interesting of this hippeastrum is the Leaf.   White strip along the leaf.
The flower itself is pink with some vein. 
Quite challenging to grow this species. Planted for 8 weeks only 2 bulbs geowing.

Hippeastrum Little Boy

I bought this hippeastrum since attracted to its name 'little'.  Has been looking for mini hippeastrum with solid red color.  Bought together with H. Double Beacon. the little boy bloom 3 weeks later. The photo was taken on 20 Jan 2014.

 

Zephyranthes Grandiflora

This Zephyranthes is the biggest pink zephyr that i currently have. When fully bloom, the diameter around 8cm. Soft pink color and a bit difficult to capture the real color with my Camera.
I missed the Day-1 bloom. The picture below is day-2 bloom.  Very rewarding, since the flower do not wither even a bit on the second day. Definitely an eye catching Zephyr.

 

Hippeastrum Double Beacon

I bought this Hippeastrum in Nov 2013 from Japan.  Attracted by its double petal and fiery red color, i ordered a bulb online. Early Jan 2014, the plant give a flower stalk with 4 buds. A bit dissappointed, the first flower give a bit more petals, the next is lesser and the last one pure single petal.
The color itself is not as solid as the catalogue.  My flower still have an eye catching scarlet color, but far from my expectation of solid red. The flower size is medium around 14cm.