Hello John,
Thanks for your history. You have vast experiences.
I am located on 208th Ave two blocks south of Stark St. in
Gresham, Oregon. For the geographically challenged this is USDA 7,
located 14 miles west of Portland, OR, west of the Cascade Mountains.
So west and southern is best exposure.
BTW Convention wisdom says to plant Hippeastrum with
shoulders exposed. Does the say obtain for Amaryllis sp?
Convention wisdom isn't always correct. One such example is
Gloriosa superba and its near kin. The gray beards at IBS
pontificated no winter water -- bone dry they said. Well, at the UCD
Botanical Conservatory I found some dormant Gloriosa in late winter
hanging in slatted boxes. They were being watered on the same
schedule as the adjacent Cattleya sp. i.e. 3 times a week. Appalled,
I tipped out the dormant tubers only to find they were happy with
nascent sprouted tubers alive and well.
Best wishes, Joyce