Plant of the Week: Amaryllis

Photo courtesy of iBulb

Amaryllis, Hippeastrum, have incredibly large, beautiful, dramatic blooms atop long, slender, hollow stems. The gorgeous blooms are great to use in cut-flower arrangements when creating a holiday centerpiece, though the plant itself is decoration enough. 

Photo courtesy of iBulb

 For stunning winter color in your home throughout the holiday season, plant amaryllis bulbs from October until the end of April. Given proper treatment, they will continue to bloom for several years. Of all the flowering bulbs, the amaryllis is one of the easiest to bring to bloom

Longwood Gardens Conservatory

QUICK FACTS:

Originated in South America’s tropical regions

Amaryllis means “sparkling” and refers to the attractive bloom

Flowering period: Late December until the end of June, depending on planting time

Flowering time: 6-8 weeks

Bulb size: Large to extra large (In general, the larger the bulb, the more flowers produced.)

Plant size: 18-24” tall, with blooms 3-6” wide; dwarf varieties available

Blooming on my kitchen counter this bulb had 17 blooms on one season. Its worth buying the bigger bulb!

PLANTING DIRECTIONS

Amaryllis bulb 
Courtesy iBulb

Plant bulbs in a good-quality, well-drained potting soil. The pot should have good drainage and be about 3–4” wider than the bulb. The potting mixture should be about 1” below the rim of the pot (for ease of watering), and about 1/3 of the bulb should show above the soil level. Firm the soil and water well.

Position the potted bulb in a warm place with direct light for proper stem development, ideally 68 to 70° F. Water sparingly until the stem appears. As the bud and leaves appear, gradually water more. The stem will grow rapidly at this point and flowers will open after the stem reaches its full height. Fertilize with a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer once a month while the plant is in active growth. Turning the pot every few days will  keep the foliage growth balanced.                    

Longwood Gardens with Kalanchoe 

Generally, bulbs will flower in about 6-8 weeks. To achieve continuous bloom, plant bulbs in 2-week intervals. Once the flower buds are ready to open, the pot can be moved to a cooler location, with less direct light. This will both prolong flowering and bring out the brilliant colors of the amaryllis. Remove the flowers as they fade, thus preventing seed formation, which diverts food from the bulb itself.

AFTERCARE

After the amaryllis has stopped flowering, cut the spent flowers and the stem at the top of the bulb. Allow the leaves to continue to grow as food manufactured will enlarge and feed the bulb. Continue to water and fertilize for approximately 5–6 months, allowing the leaves to fully develop. As the leaves start to yellow around early fall, stop watering and let the leaves fade away naturally.

Courtesy of iBulb

Place the amaryllis in a cool (40-50° F), dry, dark place for a minimum of 6 weeks. No watering or feeding is necessary during this dormant period. Caution: Do not store amaryllis bulbs in a refrigerator that contains apples and other fruit that will sterilize the bulbs.

After 6 weeks, remove bulbs and plant them approximately 8 weeks before you would like them to bloom. Follow the planting directions above for next steps.

I hope we all encourage our kids to have the kind of enthusiasm that my friend's son had when he saw this awesome plant