Amaryllis blooming for the holiday season in our living room. Note third flower stalk with large bud emerging in top right corner.
I have always admired Amaryllis plants because of their huge showy flowers and this year I bought one at Home Depot during the “Black Friday” sales hoping to have blooms for Christmas.
The amaryllis I chose was planted in a small pot and had 2 flower stalks already emerging from the soil. I took my plant home, placed it on a table in our living room and waited for the magic to happen. The amaryllis stalks grew quickly and within 2 weeks I had beautiful red flowers for the holiday season. The downside was that since they bloomed so quickly, those two flower stalks were done blooming about December 21. Fortunately, this particular amaryllis produced yet a third stalk that emerged at least a week later than the first two and those last flowers opened just in time for Christmas Eve. We had a beautiful flowers for most of the month and the last flower stalk is still blooming on December 30. It was the best amaryllis plant ever!
Research
Bulb size
It is best to select the largest bulbs available as they will produce more stalks and blooms the first year. The bulbs should be firm and dry with no signs of mold, decay or injury.
Container Selection
Select a container that is deep enough to allow adequate room for good root development and has provisions for drainage. The diameter of the pot should be about ONE inch larger than that of the bulb since amaryllis bulbs prefer a smaller container. Select a potting medium that has a high organic matter, but drains well. The bulb should be positioned so that at least one-third, preferably one-half, of the bulb is above the surface of the potting medium. Firm the potting medium around the bulb, water it thoroughly and place the container in a warm, sunny spot.
Fertilizing
Do not fertilize the bulb until it begins to grow. After growth appears, fertilize the plants regularly with a fertilizer that has high phosphorus content. Move the plant out of direct sunlight when the flower buds have begun to show color.
After-flowering care
The secret to successfully growing amaryllis is to keep the plants actively growing after they have finished blooming. It is important that amaryllis receive plenty of bright sunlight after they have finished blooming so place it in the brightest possible location indoors. Water the plant from the top of the container thoroughly whenever the top 2 inches of the soil is dry to the touch.
When all danger of frost is past, place plant outdoors in shade or indirect light. Gradually move it to a bright area that receives full sun for at least 6 hours daily. Sink the pot into the soil and fertilize with a balanced houseplant fertilizer monthly. Amaryllis plants should be brought indoors before the first frost in the fall.
After bringing the potted plants indoors, store them in a dark place like a basement or cool closet (above freezing) and do not water. Do not remove the foliage until it has become dry and shriveled. The bulbs can be forced into bloom again after resting for 8 to 12 weeks. Flowers usually develop in about 4-6 weeks from dormant bulbs, so they can be timed to flower at Christmas or for Valentine’s Day.
If all this sounds exhausting, simply buy a new amaryllis each year, plant as directed and enjoy the beautiful blooms.