Shocking a bulb into blooming, maybe a second time.

I have found out a little more about one of the techniques for forcing repeated consecutive blooming that was briefly discussed in this thread in the BULBS forum:

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/703321/

I found one technique discussed in Peggie Schulz's book _Amaryllis and How To Grow Them_ (Barrows 1954).

Schulz attributes the technique to Maude Hardgrove of Wewoka, Oklahoma, and in the book it is dubbed the "Hardgrove Shock Treatment".

The technique is basically to cut off the spent scape and all but the very small center leaves after flowering. The bulb is lifted, roots cut back to 2" and the bulb re-potted. The pot is set in a "shady place" until the leaves begin to grow, then the pot can then be returned to normal conditions. A new bloom scape is expected to follow soon enough.

The "Hardgrove Shock Treatment" was suggested for a bulb "that you know has had the best of care" but simply refuses to bloom.

However, Mrs. Hardgrove warns that shocking a bulb that has not been well-cared for might kill it.

R.