Amaryllis flowers just speak to the holiday season and make fantastic gifts for yourself or favorites.
They are easy to grow and spectacular when in flower. Available in several different colors, it seems you never know what color or how many flowers you’ll get until they actually bloom. Anticipation starts when the large green bud emerges from the bulb and builds until the flowers bloom!
They’re known for their trumpet-shaped flowers that grow atop 1 to 2-foot tall, leafless stalks. The flowers range from 4 to 10 inches in size and can be either single or double in form.
You have a choice! Amaryllis flowers can come in red, white, pink, salmon, apricot, rose, or deep burgundy. Some varieties are bicolor with purple and green added, or picotee with the petals being one color and the edges a different color.
I love amaryllis flowers. My mom and I have amaryllis flower growing races every year. What fun!
Amaryllis: The Easiest Plant Ever
You just plant the bulb in good potting soil. Place it in an area that receives bright, indirect light. Water it regularly after it sprouts. In just six to eight weeks after you plant the bulb, you’ll have tall, beautiful flowers.
I received an amaryllis bulb for my December birthday. I was so excited to see what flowers it would grow into and couldn’t wait to get it started.
It was not already in a pot, so I needed to plant it. This is what I did with my amaryllis bulb.
How to Grow Your Amaryllis Bulb
- Place the bulb in a 6-8” pot that has good drainage. Use a heavy-weight pot, as the tall flowers might tip a lighter weight pot over.
- Use good potting soil. Place the bulb in the potting mix, pointed side up. Pack the soil around the bulb, leaving about one-third of the bulb showing above the planting line.
- Place the pot in an area where it will receive bright but indirect light.
- Let the soil dry out between watering. Water slightly until you see two or so inches of new green growth, then water regularly.
- You’ll see the plant begin to take off. As the plant grows, you’ll want to turn the pot every day so that the stalks grow straight.
- As the plant gets taller, flower buds will appear at the top of each stalk. Once they begin blooming, place the pot in an area that is out of any direct sunlight to prolong the blooms.
You Can Keep Your Amaryllis For Blooms Next Year
Amaryllis have been known to rebloom every year for up to 75 years. The secret is to keep the plants growing actively after they have finished blooming.
Imagine seeing that beautiful group of blossoms again next year. And it’s so easy to do!
Here’s How You Get It To Bloom Again:
- When the plant has finished blooming, place it in the sunniest location that you have.
- Cut the flowers off after they have faded to prevent seed formation and reserve energy for next year’s blooms.
- Do not remove the flower stalk until it has turned yellow.
- After it has turned yellow, cut the stalk to within 1” of the top of the bulb.
- Continue to water and feed the plant regularly with a liquid houseplant fertilizer.
- Long, smooth leaves will appear during the spring and summer. The leaves promote photosynthesis which helps create energy that is stored in the bulb for next year’s blooms.
- In mid-August, begin withholding water and let the foliage die back naturally as the pot dries out. Store the now-dormant bulb in a cool, dark, dry place for a minimum of 8 weeks.
Then you start the process all over again 6-8 weeks before you want the amaryllis to flower.
- You just plant the bulb in good potting soil.
- Place it in an area that receives bright, indirect light.
- Water sparingly until you have 2 inches of green growth.
- Then water it regularly after it sprouts.
- In just six to eight weeks after you plant the bulb, you’ll have tall, beautiful flowers – again!
Blossoms Every Year
Repeat this process every year, and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful blooms all over again. I documented my amaryllis on this YouTube video on the Windy Gardens channel.
Did you get an amaryllis this year? What’s your favorite color?