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Tips on How to Get an Amaryllis to Grow

Every year right around Christmas, amaryllis bulbs are being bought and many are received as gifts. I usually buy one or receive at least one, usually two.

Amaryllis are known for their vibrant colors, large blooms, and the joy they add to our home around the holidays. The most popular colors are white with bright red crimson veins or solid red, but my favorite are the pink variations.

Here are some tips on how to get your amaryllis to grow and bloom properly indoors.

Usually your amaryllis will come with its own pot, especially if it’s a kit, but if not, don’t use a pot that is too large, because the plant likes to be confined when growing.

Use a pot that has no more than one to two inches of space between the side of the pot and the bulb. This will encourage a better growth cycle for your plant.

Amaryllis like rich, well drained soil. Next make sure at least one-third of the bulb is sticking out of the soil surface. If the bulb is planted too deep, it will stunt its growth.

Keep the soil moist, but not sopping wet, and never pour water directly on the bulb; doing this can cause the bulb to rot.

To get your bulb to bloom place it, if possible, in a south-facing window. The warm sunlight will help to promote blooms.

When blooms start to form, take your plant out of direct sunlight for a while. This will make the plant last a bit longer.

The stalk of the amaryllis will lean toward sunlight as it blooms, so rotate your plant so it doesn’t lean too much.

To make your plant more stable, you can add a wooden stake to help hold up the bloom.

Once your amaryllis bloom is spent, you will need to cut the stalks just above the bulb; store it in a cool, dry place; and look for any new signs of life.

Roots will appear after two- to three weeks when placed in a cool dark place. Do not water the plant at this time more than once a week or you could damage the bulb.

Once you seen roots forming, place the plant in a bright, warm room leaving it there for six- to eight weeks and voila, blooms will appear and last for four- to six weeks.

Your amaryllis plant likes warmer temperatures so keep the plant in a room that has partial sunlight with a temperature of about 68 degrees. It’s most important to be sure not to place your plant next to a drafty window or door, sudden cold drafts can damage the plant.

An amaryllis that lives for two years will produce bulblets that can be planted in a small pot using the same parameters as listed above. The larger the bulb, the more offshoots it can produce and remember don’t replant the bulbs unless they need a bigger pot. You don’t want to replant the large bulbs unless they are in need of a bigger pot, disturbing the roots of the plant is typically what causes the plant to die.

Here’s a fun fact: Amaryllis plants are sometimes associated with Holland because of its bright colors, but they originated in Chile. In 1928 a young doctor was searching for medical plants when he stumbled upon the amaryllis plant with its vibrant colors. He thought they were simply breathtaking.

The North Haven Garden Club’s Facebook page has more useful and entertaining information and pictures about plants, flowers, and club activities. The North Haven Garden Club is a member of The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Inc., New England Garden Clubs Inc., and The National Garden Clubs Inc.