How to grow Amaryllis

Among the seasonal flowers that help us celebrate the holidays, amaryllis stand out for the living accent their long-lasting, colorful blooms lend to our holiday decorations. Amaryllis take six to eight weeks to bloom, so now’s the time to start them. Amaryllis are available in many beautiful varieties, including various shades of red, white, pink and salmon. 

Next to color, bulb quality and size are most important. Look for bulbs that are firm and still have some of their natural papery covering. Amaryllis bulbs are sized from small to X-large. Generally, the larger the bulb size, the more blooms it will produce. Once you've chosen the bulbs you want to start, it's time to pick out a container. Amaryllis can be planted in soil or forced in water. If you’re growing in soil, choose a heavy ceramic or clay pot, because lightweight pots may tip over under the weight of the blooms.  The container you select needs to have good drainage and be the right size for the bulb you’re planting.  

Amaryllis like to be snug in their pot, so select a container that's about an inch or so larger than the bulb and is deep enough for the roots to grow. Next, add damp potting soil to the bottom third of the pot. Place the bulb in the center of the pot and spread the roots out so they fan out from the center of the bulb. Do the best you can with the roots. You're mainly trying to keep them from bunching up under the bulb. Fill in around the bulb with more damp potting soil. Leave the top third of the bulb uncovered. Water thoroughly and place the bulb in a warm, well-lit location. Once the flower stalk begins to appear, you can start feeding your bulb with a 20-20-20 fertilizer. After that, fertilize every two weeks and water frequently enough to keep the soil moist. 

Amaryllis can also be grown in water. Select a container that doesn’t drain, add stones or gravel to the bottom of the pot and place your amaryllis bulb in the center of the container.  Add water to the container until it just touches the base of the bulb. Choose a warm, bright location for your bulb and maintain the water level throughout the growing and blooming cycle. It should be noted that amaryllis grown in water are very difficult to get to rebloom the following season. If you plan to keep your amaryllis bulbs season-after-season, grow them in soil. 

Waxed amaryllis bulbs are available. They don’t require soil or water. Simply place them in a bright, warm spot in your house or office and enjoy the holiday color. When the bloom cycle is over, discard the spent bulb. For colorful blooms throughout the holidays, plant an amaryllis bulb every two to three weeks, starting now.