| Amaryllis Flower | | | | packaged or bulk bulbs, but more often are sold in |
| Nothing can break the gloom, like a bloom in the | | | | a pre-potted condition. The pre-planted Amaryllis |
| dead of winter. Of all of the flowering bulbs, the | | | | gift boxes normally take no more initial effort |
| Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) is the easiest to force | | | | than simply watering them with room |
| into bloom. Amaryllis Flower fit into any color | | | | temperature water to bring them into growth. |
| scheme with their magnificent blooms of white, | | | | Avoid getting water on the nose of the bulb. |
| pink, red, yellow, and orange. When the showy | | | | Keep the potting medium moist, but not wet. |
| amaryllis blooms, the explosion is visible from | | | | Don't over-water! The plant should be kept in a |
| everywhere in a room. Bursting forth from tall | | | | brightly lighted area at about 70-75 degrees F. |
| stems, these robust plants grow to heights of 2 | | | | After the plant begins to grow, feeding is |
| feet. There are many hybrids of this amaryllis | | | | essential. Either use a complete slow- release |
| available. They are usually grown indoors in pots | | | | fertilizer which lasts several months, or a water |
| because of their rapid growth and showy flowers. | | | | soluble fertilizer twice a month. Once the plant is |
| If planted indoors, they bloom during the winter | | | | flowering, keep it out of direct sunlight, and slightly |
| and early spring season, depending on when | | | | cooler to promote a longer flower life. After all |
| planted. If planted outside in warm climates, they | | | | flowers fade, cut them off at the top of the |
| bloom in the spring. Each bulb normally produces | | | | stalk. When the stalk begins to sag, carefully cut it |
| two stems of 2 - 6 flowers on each stem. They | | | | off just above the bulb nose. Continue to water |
| grow from 12 - 36 inches tall and are hardy | | | | and fertilize as normal, until the leaves begin to |
| outside in zones 8 - 11. The large, (up to six inch | | | | yellow. At this time, cut the leaves back to about |
| blooms) showy flowers, and ease with which they | | | | 2 inches from the top of the bulb and remove it |
| can be grown in the home make the Amaryllis | | | | from the pot. Keep the bulb in a cool (40-50 |
| extremely popular as a gift plant during the | | | | degree f), dark place for a minimum of 6-8 |
| holiday seasons. | | | | weeks. Plant bulbs 8 weeks before you would like |
| | | | them to bloom. |
| Growing Amaryllis Indoors | | | | Any time after that, you may repot the bulb, and |
| Select a flowerpot 6 to 8 inches in diameter with | | | | begin the process over again. Bulbs may be |
| a drain hole. Fill it about 1/3 full of good quality | | | | planted at two-week intervals, from September |
| potting soil. Place the bulb in the pot, spreading the | | | | through February to ensure non-stop winter |
| roots out gently. Fill the pot up the rest of the | | | | bloom, until May. Plant in a well-drained, sterile |
| way with soil leaving the neck of the bulb | | | | potting medium, using a standard 6-inch diameter |
| exposed. Water thoroughly one time, then water | | | | pot. Be sure that the pot has adequate drainage |
| sparingly until the bulb starts to grow. Do not | | | | holes. Plant the bulb, with about one-third being |
| over water. Put the pot in a warm sunny place. | | | | above the rim of the pot. Press the soil down |
| You will enjoy watching the flower stalk gradually | | | | firmly to set the bulb securely in place. Water |
| emerge. Each Amaryllis bulb seems to have its | | | | thoroughly, and your plant will begin anew. |
| own schedule but generally flowers will be open in | | | | Bulbs, which are older than two years, will produce |
| 6 to 8 weeks. Each stalk may produce 4 to 6 | | | | offset bulblets. These bulblets may be left |
| flowers; large bulbs may have 2 to 3 stalks. After | | | | attached to the mother and repotted that way, |
| flowering, cut off the flower stalks and watch the | | | | creating quite a show. Preferably, the bulblets are |
| leaves appear. Water and fertilize the bulb | | | | carefully removed from the mother bulb |
| regularly through the summer. Stop watering in | | | | (immediately before it is replanted), and planted in |
| August; put the bulb in a cool dark place in | | | | their own individual pots. These little bulbs will take |
| September and let it go dormant for 8 to 12 | | | | two years of growth before they will produce |
| weeks. Then bring it into the light, water it, and | | | | their first flower. |
| begin the cycle again. | | | | So bring that whiff of freshness into your home |
| Amaryllis may be purchased as individually | | | | now with the blooming Amaryllis. |