Question
Hi Tom
I have (still in the original pot) an Oxana staprioxa that was given to me in May 2007.  I do not have a garden bed and have kept it as a house plant.  My question is -- how do I get it to flower again?  It only flowered the first year and although a beautiful green plant, does not flower. I have it in a window where the sun goes from east around to west on the south side of the home.  I fertilize twide a year with Miracle Gro.  Will it flower  or not?   Does it actually need to be "wintered" and allowed to rest?  Thank you for your assistance.

Answer
Hi Donna,
The plant you have is a hybrid of Alstroemeria or Peruvian Lily.  They are reliably hardy to zone 7, possibly cooler with protection.  Two problems I see here contributing to the plant not blooming.  The first is that the plant will benefit from some protected cold treatment.  I don't know how cold it gets where you are.  I don't think this plant will tolerate freezing but it has been known to grow in areas that have a mild winter where the ground does not freeze much.  I would imagine that exposure to temperatures below 40癋 for several months will cause this plant to go dormant like it is supposed to and then once it starts warming up again, it will come back and start blooming again.  It is a native of the Andes mountains.  The second issue is that the plant has been in a pot for 3 years.  That means it is probably rootbound.  Alstroemerias don't like to be divided but you have to unless you're growing them outdoors.  I suggest taking it out of the pot and gently pulling the rhizomes apart.  The rhizomes are brittle so be careful when you pull them apart and then plant in separate pots.  If you're in Zone 5b or 6, you can plant them outdoors in full sun where they can be protected from the north wind and then either dig them up in the fall and store in a cool dry basement or mulch them heavily with hay.  I hope this helps.
Tom