H. aulicum is an epiphytic species and is found growing in trees but is also found growing on rocks or in plant litter on the forest floor. I think that the fact it grows in a multitude of areas naturally makes for a much stronger, easy to grow plant. This is a species which I do recommend most beginners who are interested in growing Hippeastrum species, it's readily available and quite easy from seed.
I plan to eventually mount a bulb or two on a wood plank to see how will it will grow, H. aulicum has very fiborous roots that will cling to wood surfaces. I know of others who have mounted H. papilio in such a manner and it has thrived, H. papilio is also an epipytic species from the Atlantic Forest. H. aulicum and H. papilio are closely related, I see many charecteristics in both species that are very similar, if you looks closely the bottom segment it creates a tube that houses the filaments, this is also observed in H. papilio.
It has actually be stated by the late Len Doran that H. papilio was a hybrid that produces seed true to the parent plant that is expected withing a species, if this is the case I assume that H. aulicum or H. calyptratum (epiphytic as well) have some role in the parentage considering the epiphytic nature of H. papilio.
