Can anyone tell me what plant this is?

Aleh
by Aleh

I got this plant from a friend. They moved out and left it behind. Idk how to care for it and idk if I’m helping it by keeping it in water or need to put it in soil. I don’t want it to die.

  14 answers
  • Deb K Deb K on Feb 08, 2020

    Hello Aleh, it looks at first glance like an amaryliss, hope this link helps you out!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnNuDb31gHw i attached a couple of pictures of some of the blooms they have!


  • Morgan McBride Morgan McBride on Feb 08, 2020

    the blooms on this smell SO GOOD and it just lives in water!

  • Carol Carol on Feb 08, 2020

    I need to see more of it before I can what kind of bulb it is before I can answer your question.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Feb 08, 2020

    Need to see the bloom before you can get an answer. Could be an amaryllis or maybe a hyacinth.

  • Plant lover Plant lover on Feb 08, 2020

    If the blooms were a small cluster of white, intensely fragrant blossoms it is probably a paper white narcissus. Commonly grown in water and discarded after blooming. If you live in a warm climate (zones 8 through 11) you can plant it outside in the spring and it may bloom again in a few years. Bulbs cost about a dollar in the fall so it's not a big financial decision.

  • Jodi Jodi on Feb 08, 2020

    Plant it in soil, it looks like it might be a Christmas lily or armor Lily usually has beautiful blooms.

  • Mindshift Mindshift on Feb 09, 2020

    Many bulbs can be forced into growth during winter, and some do well forced in water. However, they don't naturally live in water or wet ground. Most need a period of dry soil while they are dormant. Only the bottom of the bulb should touch the water. Those that do well in water are daffodils and other narcisses species, tulips, hyacinths, crocuses, snowdrops and bulbous iris species. Many of these also require several weeks of chilling in the refrigerator before planting, otherwise they are unlikely to bloom. Bulbs need bright light, and the container should be turned each day so the plant does not lean. Most forced bulbs are not likely to rebloom the following year, though daffodils are an exception. Once a bulb has bloomed most people throw the bulb away.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Feb 09, 2020

    Hi Aleh,

    Don't keep it in water, but pot it in soil and let it do it's own thing. Might well be an Amaryllis or a Clavia house plant. When finished flowering the foliage and flower will die back into the bulb. Leave dormant until next year then start to water and feed again. Lovely plants...................

  • Kathy Kathy on Feb 10, 2020

    Looks like an onion to me

  • Janice Janice on Feb 10, 2020

    Hi Aleh, I'm thinking it is an amaryllis too. Definitely not an onion as someone else suggested because of the pleasant fragrance you mention. What a happy surprise if you can get it to bloom for you.

  • JudyH JudyH on Feb 11, 2020

    Amaryllis, I think. Plant in soil, do not place in very bright direct sunlight, and don't drowned it with water.

  • Sam Sam on Feb 11, 2020

    After blossoming, the bulb needs to grow and store food for next season’s bloom. Often the bulbs actually shrink in size from the stress of blooming and need to recover lost nutrients.

    Once the blossoms have faded, cut off the flower stalk but keep the leaves growing by placing the pot in a warm, sunny spot. Water regularly and fertilize weekly with a balanced houseplant fertilizer. This is when next year’s buds are formed within the bulb.

    It takes a minimum of four leaves to produce one flower stalk, because the buds form in the axils of every fourth bulb scale. Keep the plant growing all summer long; you can even move it outside for the summer. Bring it in at the end of August and let it dry out to induce a period of dormancy. Put the pot in a cool (around 50 degrees) dark place. Pull off any dried up leaves.

    https://www.almanac.com/news/gardening/gardening-advice/amaryllis-how-grow-amaryllis-bulbs

  • NancyParsons NancyParsons on Feb 11, 2020

    There's a potted plant called "Pregnant Onion" (common name) that looks like this. It grows above the soil & has tiny offshoots growing from the root similar to an onion or garlic. I've never seen one bloom, but I've been told they do.

  • Kathynichols133 Kathynichols133 on Feb 12, 2020

    Looks like a pregnant onion. I have two of them. Mine get an oblong flower and have little pods that grow on them . I take those and replant them.