Amaryllis

Amaryllis

Easy to Love! Easy to Grow!

Amaryllis are one of the easiest bulbs to grow and one of the most spectacular.

The Bulb

With most bulbs, bigger is better. Select a larger bulb, that is firm to the touch. A few dried roots are normal, but most of the roots should be firm.

The Pot

Select a pot that is at least 2" wider than the diameter of the bulb. Make sure that the pot does not have a strong taper. Amaryllis like lots of room for their roots!

The pot should be fairly heavy to counter the weight of the flowers. One of the lessons I've learned the hard way is to avoid using plastic pots. The flowering plant tends to topple over. Personally, I will either use a clay pot, or will add a 1" layer of crushed rock to the bottom of a plastic grower pot.

Planting

If you are using a clay pot, begin by soaking the pot in lukewarm water. If you plant in a dry pot, the clay will wick moisture from the potting soil.

Soak the plant’s roots in lukewarm water for about an hour. Avoid soaking the entire bulb. I fill a coffee cup with water and suspend the bulb on the rim of the cup.

Amaryllis need well drained soil, so start with a good quality sterile potting soil. Fill the bottom third of the pot with the soil mix. Compact lightly. Set your bulb in the pot and fan out the roots. Add more soil until the soil covers half of the bulb. Compact lightly. Water well. Place the bulb in a warm sunny location.

Care

Be careful not to over water. Water the plant when the top 1/2 inch of soil is dry.

As a rule, the stems and flowers will appear before the leaves. The plant grows quickly and you will need to remember to rotate the pot every couple of days so that your stem grows straight and does not lean towards the light. Expect two stems with four blossoms each about 6-7 weeks after planting. Remove spent flowers. That way, the plant will put energy into producing next year’s flowers and not seed.

Dark green strap like leaves are produced either as the plant is blooming or shortly after. These leaves are the key to next year’s flowers. Over the next 6 months, the leaves will use the energy of the sun to form beautiful blossoms. Your job is to keep the plant evenly moist and in a bright sunny location. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer like Plant Prod® 20-20-20 every 3-4 weeks.

Reblooming

To force the bulb to rebloom next winter, gradually reduce watering in August. Allow the leaves to yellow and die back naturally. In September, place the plants in a cool dark location and store for two months. In November, repot the amaryllis in fresh soil. Place in a bright sunny window and your amaryllis will be ready to give you another season of flowers.

© Dutch Growers Garden Centre Saskatoon Ltd 2006

Return to Dutch Growers Grow Guide