Amaryllis
Amaryllis sp.
Hippeastrum spp.
Amaryllis is an easy bulb to grow indoors as a houseplant. Their large, show-stopping blooms come in many colors: white, coral, red and pink; with lots of variations such as stripes and ruffled petals. A select few are fragrant. The bulbs are sold in the fall and will bloom 6 – 8 weeks after planting. If you time it right, you can get them to bloom in time for Christmas or for a much needed perk in mid-February. You can keep amaryllis and force it to bloom year after year.
What you need
- Amaryllis kits which contain a bulb, pot and potting soil are widely sold.
- If purchasing bulbs alone, look for large, dry bulbs with no signs of rot. Larger bulbs tend to produce more flower stalks.
- Select a pot that is an inch or two wider than the bulb and about twice the height of the bulb. It should have one or more drainage holes at the bottom.
- All purpose indoor potting soil.
- All purpose indoor plant fertilizer. (20-20-20)
How to plant
- Fill half the pot with soil.
- Place the root end of the bulb on top of the soil. The tip of the bulb should be seen above the lip of the pot.
- Add more soil around the bulb. Do not bury the bulb - ensure that one third of the bulb is above the soil line.
- Water well and allow excess water to drain. Set the pot in a sunny window away from drafts.
During the bloom period
- Leaves followed by flower stalks will begin to grow soon after planting.
- Allow the soil to dry slightly between watering.
- Fertilize weekly but at half the rate recommended on the package. Don’t over fertilize.
- If you planted your amaryllis in a plastic pot, it may topple due to the weight of the tall blooms. Place the plastic pot inside a heavier pot to help stabilize.
After blooming – getting your bulb to bloom again
- Once the blooms are spent, cut them off at the top of the stem. Leave the stem intact until it turns yellow or sags. Then cut it off near the top of the bulb.
- Allow the leaves to continue to grow. Photosynthesis is needed to store energy in the bulb so it can bloom again next year.
- Late spring: Once there is no danger of frost in spring, harden off your plant and grow outdoors over the summer.
- Put it in a sunny spot in the garden or on a patio. It needs at least 6 hours of full sun a day. If you like, you can sink the entire pot in the soil of your garden bed.
- Late summer/early fall: Bring your amaryllis inside before the first frost in the fall.
- Stop watering and allow the leaves to shrivel and dry before cutting off all of the leaves.
- Store the pot in a cool, dark, dry place like a cold room or a closet for at least 8 weeks.
- Or, you can remove the bulb from the pot, wrap it in newspaper or a paper bag and store it in the crisper drawer of your fridge. Do not store it with apples – they produce ethylene gas which will prevent your bulb from blooming.
- In late fall, begin watering your amaryllis and start the process over again.
Did you know…
- Amaryllis is native to South America, the Caribbean and Mexico.
- Amaryllis bulbs are poisonous.
- Amaryllis like to be a bit pot-bound. Repot every 4 or 5 years.
- Some amaryllis have been known to live for 75 years.
