Andre Baranowski
Huge, colorful flowers on tall stalksmake amaryllis a holiday favorite.
Their willingness to flower, at least the first time, is part of their popularity.
Amaryllis also can be planted and grown as perennials outdoors inHardiness Zones 9-11.
Credit:Andre Baranowski
Theyll be fine if they have some sunshine andwell-drained soil.
How and When to Plant Amaryllis
Planting amaryllis bulbs in containersis about as easy as it gets.
For a starting point, plant amaryllis bulbs about eight weeks before you want them to bloom.
Credit:Andre Baranowski
Amaryllis bulbs benefit from soaking their roots in room-temperature water for 12-24 hours prior to planting.
This produces a healthier and more vigorous plant that blooms faster.
Soak just the roots, not the bulb.
Credit: Michael Partenio
Amaryllis bulbs are graded by size; generally, a larger bulb means more flower stalks and blooms.
Fill the rest of the pot, water thoroughly, and set it in a bright, warm spot.
Youll likely see growth begin in a week or two.
Light
Amaryllis grow and bloom best withat least four hours of sunshineper day.
Too much shade may prevent them from blooming again the following year.
Indoors,a grow light is usefulto produce the largest, healthiest plants.
Soil and Water
For amaryllis in pots, use a well-draining, fresh potting mix.
Bulbs planted outdoors in the ground need a bed of loosened soil withsome compost worked in.
In either case, good drainage is essential to prevent the bulb from rotting.
Water your amaryllis bulb immediately after planting, keeping the soil moist but not wet or soggy.
For potted amaryllis, watering once per week is usually sufficient.
Outdoorbeds of amaryllis can be mulchedto preserve soil moisture and keep weeds down.
Temperature and Humidity
Amaryllis are tropical plants that like warm weather.
They prefer moderate to high humidity in the 40-60 percent range.
Feed it once a month with a diluted general-purpose product, following the directions on the label.
When the leaves die back, stop fertilizing until you bring the plant out of dormancy.
Allow the amaryllis to recharge for several months.
Amaryllis require a period of dormancy to bloom.
This happens naturally for outdoor planted bulbs, but you should probably help if your amaryllis is a houseplant.
To send the plant into dormancy, remove any old foliage.
Water it well and place the plant in a dark, cool area, about 40F-50F.
A windowless basement ora cellar works well.
It takes about six to eight weeks for the cycle to reset.
Pests and Problems
Wet conditions andpoor drainage cause problemsfor amaryllis.
If they stay wet too long, the bulbs are susceptible to rotting.
If your soil is typically soggy over winter,consider making a raised bedfor your amaryllis.
How to Propagate Amaryllis
Amaryllis can be propagated through bulb offsets (recommended) or seeds.
The entire process from an offset to a flowering bulb takes three to four years.
When repotting an amaryllis in late winter or early spring, examine the bulb.
Look for offsets (small attached bulblets) that have their own roots.
Carefully separate an offset from the mother bulb and plant it in a small pot filled with compost.
Seeds
Propagating amaryllis from seed is difficult.
In addition, they must be hand-pollinated.
The resulting seeds can be harvested about eight weeks later and should be sown immediately.
Types of Amaryllis
Amaryllis is the common name for certainHippeastrumvarieties frequently seenaround the winter holidays.
Their height is dependent upon the amount of light they receive.
Full sun is preferred and results in the tallest plants.
Red Lion
Award-winningRed Lion amaryllis has large, 7-inch, single, rich-red flowers.
It grows up to 26 inches tall and produces multiple bloom stalks.
The bulb typically produces at least two flower stems, each with up to four blooms.
The blooms are up to 8 inches across.
It grows up to 18 inches tall under bright light.
These large bulbs like to be somewhat crowded in a pot or a bed.
