Amaryllis have become increasingly popular holiday gift plants, undoubtedly because the bulbs
bloom very freely indoors and they are affordable. The large, showy flowers make a bold
statement and are available in an increasing variety of colors, shapes, and sizes that fit
almost any taste. Amaryllis are not difficult to grow and may be brought into bloom every
year if the plants are treated correctly. To understand the process, it may help to
understand the plant and its native environment.
Amaryllis are bulbs of the genus Hippeastrum that are native to tropical and subtropical
areas of the Americas. Some species grow in rock crevices in savannas that have distinct
dry and wet seasons; others grow in high plateau regions that have cool weather for most
of the year. One species from Brazil is epiphytic and grows in trees in montane forests
with no soil around the roots. Many species have been hybridized to produce today's
hybrids, and most of these species experience warm, humid conditions with abundant
rainfall for most of the year and a short, cooler dry season. To make your amaryllis
bloom again, you simply have to mimic the conditions that nature provides.
Here's an easy step-by-step plan to get your amaryllis to bloom again:
1. Keep it cool through the holidays.
Enjoy your amaryllis for the maximum time possible by placing it in a location with
diffuse light and cool indoor temperatures in the 60°F range. Keep it barely moist.
When you water, be careful not to get the portion of the bulb that sticks above the
soil wet. If you have a large bulb, you may get two or three flowering stalks that
bloom over a period of several weeks.
2. Cut the flower stalks.
When the last flower has faded on each of the flower stalks, cut the flower stalk
near the top of the bulb. Be careful not to injure the leaves or any emerging
flower stalks. Don't be alarmed if a large amount of sap runs out of the hollow
flower stalk when you cut it. This is normal if the plant has been well watered.
3. Increase light, water, and fertilizer.
It's now late winter, and your amaryllis is now in its growth phase. Your main
objective is to encourage leaf production that will help the bulb bulk up for
next year's flowers. It's hard to give your amaryllis too much sunlight at this
time of the year. Move it to the sunniest location that you can manage. A
sunroom or greenhouse space is best, but a south-facing window will work until
spring comes. Fertilize it monthly with a liquid fertilizer, and never allow
the soil to dry out completely.
4. Move it outdoors in spring.
As soon as the weather settles and all threat of frost is gone, move your amaryllis
outdoors. Don't be alarmed if many of the leaves wither and die in the adjustment
period. Wind and exposure to more sunlight may cause some of the older leaves to
die; new ones will grow. Choose a sunny area where you can water the plants daily.
A deck or patio works fine, and the glossy strap-shaped leaves are a good textural
foil for many other plants. Fertilize the plants every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer
or apply a slow release fertilizer.
5. Decide when you'd like your amaryllis to bloom.
If you want flowers for the holidays, you'll need to begin its dormant period by mid August.
Withhold water, and move the pots to a location where they can be kept around 55°F. Most
people don't have a space that they can keep this cool at the height of summer, so you
might have to let the seasons determine bloom time for you. You can leave your amaryllis
outdoors well into autumn. If you do, stop fertilizing it in late September and bring it
indoors before the end of October or earlier if a heavy frost is forecast. You can bring
it indoors in the pot or remove the bulb from the pot and wash the soil off the roots if
you like at this time.
6. Keep it in cool storage until the bulbs signal they are ready to go.
Amaryllis usually lose all or most of their leaves during their dormant period,
although it is not necessary for all the leaves to wither for the bulb to reach
complete dormancy. Keep the bulb on the dry side. Check the bulb every week;
after eight to ten weeks of cool storage, you should notice the tip of the new
flower stalk emerging from the bulb. If you shift the bulb to a warm spot (70-80°F)
for three weeks, you will encourage leaves to emerge at the same time the flower
stalk is developing, but a warm treatment is not needed for floral development.
You can repot the bulb in fresh soil at this point. Be careful not to bury the
bulb too deeply. At least one third of the bulb should be visible above the soil
surface. Don't plant the bulb in a pot that is any more than two times the diameter
of the bulb. When you repot it, you may notice smaller side bulbs that can be broken
away from the main bulb. These can also be potted and grown on in a sunny spot.
They will not bloom this year, but may bloom after two or three years of growth.
7. Start it warm and water tentatively.
Water your amaryllis thoroughly right after you repot it, and allow the soil
surface to dry a bit before watering it again. Place it in a warm spot to
stimulate root growth. A sunny spot is best. If you try to rebloom your amaryllis
in dim light conditions, the flower stalk will grow long and your amaryllis will be
more prone to breakage or tipping. Wait until the first flower has opened to move
the plant to a location with subdued light and cool temperatures to preserve the
flower as long as possible.
8. Repeat.
You can keep your amaryllis indefinitely, and if you can provide the right
conditions for growth and dormancy, your bulb will get larger and multiply
itself over the years. Large bulbs may produce as many as three flower stalks
and some bulbs may bloom during the summer as well as during the winter, depending
on temperature and other growing conditions.
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