The weather is hideous, constant rain and very violent winds, but when I walk into the greenhouses it is calm and there is always something to cheer me. Some of my Hippeastrums are blooming now, and Hippeastrum yungacense is especially beautiful. I have three accessions of this species and they are all slightly different. The one pictured above is my favorite with especially bright colors.
Hippeastrum yungacense is native to Bolivia, as are many wonderful bulbs. It derives its name from a stretch of forest along the eastern slope of the Andes, running from Peru and Bolivia to northern Argentina. The Bolivian Yungas ranges from 400 to 3500 meters (1,300 to 11,500 ft.), and is largely a very warm moist forest, so I would guess that this species prefers some shade and extra moisture and humidity. Even so, I am still growing it in a mixture of horticultural pumice and peat (about 50/50) and it seems happy. This is a very cool climate here, so I was right in placing it on my heating mats. This is also a foggy climate, so our humidity should suit it fine.