When you think about growing bulbs, you probably think of planting them in the fall to enjoy them in the spring. But what about winter? That's where amaryllis comes in. Perfect for a cold winter's day, these beautiful flowers make great holiday gifts.
Amaryllis bulbs come from the tropical regions of South America. Huge flamboyant blossoms stand boldly on tall, thick stems. The most popular types are large flowering varieties in shades of red, pink and white. In addition to the single-color flowers, there are also several multicolored varieties. Some, like 'Amoretta', produce a miniature bi-colored bloom.
Different varieties bloom at different times, but most bloom sometime between Christmas and May. These bulbs are typically available around October; if you're going to give them as Christmas gifts, keep in mind that they need to be planted by the end of October. There are small varieties as well as larger ones. Smaller bulbs are less expensive and produce smaller flowers. You'll pay more for larger bulbs, but they'll produce those big tropical blooms.
Materials:
amaryllis bulbs
sturdy pot
heavy potting soil
embellishments like moss or lichen
stake: bamboo, artificial red dogwood or a stalk of artificial berries
Choose a sturdy pot that can hold the amaryllis' wobbly stem. The pot needs to be wide enough to support the girth of the bulb plus a one-inch space around the bulb. You'll also need a good heavy potting soil, not a soilless mixture.
Before you plant, make sure your container has a hole in the bottom for drainage. Then fill the container with a good potting soil. Place the bulb in the soil, covering the entire base area. Water it well and let drain.The soil is going to settle after you water, so you may need to top it off a bit. Make sure that the soil level is right at the shoulder of the bulb. You can add moss or lichens, or both, for a decorative touch.
Now comes the easy part. Place the bulb in a sunny location, and don't water it until the bulb sprouts top dark green growth several inches long. Then you can water once a week. Amaryllis bulbs don't like wet soil, but they don't like to dry out either, so water sparingly. After six to ten weeks, you'll get beautiful blooms, so sit back and enjoy. Don't fertilize at all until the blooms fade.
When the plant is in full bloom, it can get a little top heavy. You may have to add additional support. For that, you can use a simple bamboo stake. Place it alongside the bulb in the pot, being sure you don't puncture the bulb. Tie it to the stem. Or for something more decorative, use red dogwood, an artificial stake or even a stalk of artificial berries.
Finally, when it's time for gift giving, you can see how lovely a simple amaryllis plant is by itself, but if you want to dress it up, place it in a basket and surround it with houseplants.
If you want to get your amaryllis to rebloom, here's what you need to do. Once the flowers fade, cut them off. Let the green glossy leaves continue to grow in the pot. Keep it in a sunny location indoors and water it on a regular basis. Once a week or every other week, add a houseplant fertilizer to the water. After all threats of frost are gone, place the pot outside and let it grow throughout the summer. Then around Labor Day, cut the foliage back and bring the bulb back inside. Store it in a cool dark location. Then in October, repot your bulb and you'll enjoy your beautiful amaryllis for another glorious year.
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