Great! How to Plant an Amaryllis Bulb. While a single bulb can produce several huge flowers, you can maximize the show by planting three bulbs of the same variety in one pot, or mix and match a few different varieties. Amaryllis (or Amarillo plant, or Amerilla plant) is a bulb, abundantly flowering with great exuberance. Often forced indoors near the winter holidays, amaryllis can also be grown outdoors. Plant the amaryllis bulbs in a pot that is 5cm (2″)wider than the bulb. Add bulb to pot. Give It Sun. The container may be clay, ceramic or plastic, but should have drainage holes in the bottom. Amaryllis are easily available and relatively inexpensive, though the more exotic or newer hybrids may cost a bit more than the more common varieties. After you plant your bulbs, water well to help settle them into their pots. Amaryllis bulbs have all they need to easily flower. Place the pot in a relatively cool, bright location. As with other flower bulbs, amaryllis use their leaves to produce energy for next year’s flowers. An amaryllis support stake does the job nicely. In areas with winter freezing, the bulbs must be dug up and kept in a dark place indoors until spring replanting. Get a large flowering, double and specialty bulb. Once the plant is in active growth, water regularly and turn the pot periodically to encourage the stalk to grow straight. Then keep the soil barely moist, applying no more than ¼ cup of water per week. Water again only after you see the green growth of the leaves emerging from the bulb. of mulch (5-7 cm). F), dark place such as the crisper of your refrigerator for a minimum of 6 weeks. About Amaryllis. The Amaryllis flower is a beautiful and classic plant that is easy to grow and care for and perfect for the festive season. From bulb to bloom, we’ll walk you through this comprehensive guide to amaryllis, how to plant its bulbs and re-flower them.We will be also sharing some interesting facts and meanings associated with this flower. In general, it takes five to eight weeks for amaryllis to bloom, but this timing depends on many factors, including the type of amaryllis, air temperature, and how long the bulb has been dormant, among others. In this video, garden guru, Tanya Visser shows you how to plant amaryllis bulbs and take care of them. Sometimes the long flower stems benefit from a little extra support. You want the roots of amaryllis bulbs in water to be fleshy and white. Once you have the ideal place in mind for planting, determine the soil's pH, which will help you in determining if your soil is sand, silt, clay, or loam. Clean the bulb and place it in a cool (40-50 deg. One bulb can usually be planted in a 6” diameter pot, or three bulbs together in a 10”- 12” pot. Before the stem begins growing, do not give more than a small amount of water to the bulb, enough to lightly moisten the soil. Decorating & Finishing Choose a container that has a drainage hole and is about 2 inches wider than the diameter of 1 amaryllis bulb. Expect one bloom cycle per year, in late spring. To achieve continuous bloom, plant at intervals of 2 weeks for stunning color in your home or garden. Two teaspoons of each for one bulb in an average 8 or 10 inch pot will be perfect. Direct sunlight is not essential. The flamboyant blooms of amaryllis (Hippeastrum) are a stunning sight that’s all the more welcome in the depths of winter and early spring.They’re easy to grow, and take between six to eight weeks to flower. Buds will appear and blooms will begin to open within five to eight weeks. Protect over-winter with 2-3 in. Add water to about an inch below the base of the bulb. After the bulb flowers, it will produce several long, strappy leaves. Amaryllis contains enough nutrients, therefore, plant food is not necessary. This is highly dependent on how much the bulb has sprouted when you plant it. Think of them as a tender garden plant, not a house plant, and treat them much as you would a precious pot of freesia or non-hardy agapanthus. Beneath the bulb should be compost to half of the depth of the bulb. If you over-water an amaryllis, the bulb may decay and the plant will cease growing. Plant the bulb in good, well-drained potting mix. Cut the old flowers from the stem after flowering, and when the stem starts to sag, cut it back to the top of the bulb.Leaf Growth and Development. Before amaryllis plant division, you should prepare the new site or containers. A great sample of our bulbs. Pre-dig holes with a bulb planter or auger. Using a pot only a little bigger than the bulb, cover two thirds of the bulb with general purpose compost, leaving the upper third uncovered. Mix in a combination of a time-released fertilizer such as Osmocote, and an equal amount of an organic granular product such as Plant-tone. Plant your amaryllis bulbs between six and eight weeks before you’d like them to bloom. Amaryllis are a tender bulb from Brazil and so need to be grown inside; frost-free when it’s cold, but once the frosts are over and the nights are no longer cold, they can be moved outside until the end of summer. Grab a print version of our catalog instantly or add your name to our mailing list. If you are replanting the amaryllis in your garden, remove any dead leaves and peel off the bulb sheaths. Either way is fine. Place the plant in the soil with the bulb shoulders exposed, and give it a drink of water. This will help “wake” the amaryllis up. Plant Again. Planting Bulb: Plant your amaryllis in light, well-draining potting mix, with the top 1/3 of the bulb sticking up out of the soil. For groups of 2 or more bulbs, select a wider pot that provides an equally snug fit. Today, there's just a tiny bit of the original lawn left. If grown in a frost-free garden (Zones 8 to 10), amaryllis will naturally bloom in March, April, and May, with fall rebloom possible. Add soil or amendments to provide a well-draining, healthy soil to reduce transplant shock. For best results, grow your amaryllis in a relatively cool room (60-65°F) with bright, indirect light. The amaryllis comes in many beautiful varieties including various shades of red, white, pink, salmon and orange. In addition to my work at Gardener's Supply, I work in the gardening division at Church Hill Landscapes. Plant bulbs in a nutritious soil so one-third of the bulb is sticking out. Your browser's Javascript functionality is turned off. Do not overwater. How: The area in which you plant amaryllis bulbs must drain very well. Bulbs will grow and bloom in about 3 to 8 weeks after planting. Bulb Storage. The ideal temperature is 68 to 70 degrees F.  Water sparingly until the stem appears, then, as the bud and leaves appear, gradually water more. Please turn it on so that you can experience the full capabilities of this site. Of all flowering bulbs, amaryllis are the easiest to bring to bloom. After the amaryllis has stopped flowering, it can be made to flower again. If you have an old amaryllis bulb or bulbs – don’t throw them away. deep (7 cm). You can also trim off any stalks and foliage remaining on the amaryllis at this point. After 6 weeks you may remove bulbs whenever you would like to plant them. Give the plant plenty of bright light to help it build up its reserves. Store the bulbs for a minimum of 6 weeks. In general, it takes five to eight weeks for amaryllis to bloom, but this timing depends on many factors, including the type of amaryllis, air temperature, and how long the bulb has been dormant, among others. A bulb without a sprout can take 6-8 weeks to bloom while a bulb with a 3 inch sprout might bloom in 3 weeks. I believe that all gardening is good gardening. Tip. All our bulbs are prime bulbs. It belongs to the Hippeastrum genus. How to plant an amaryllis bulb in the right way. Make sure to dig a hole deep enough in the soil to house the other two-thirds of the bulb. In Zones 8-10, Amaryllis also make gorgeous garden plants in the growing season. Prepare your bulb by trimming off any dry, brown roots. Few bulbs are easier to grow than amaryllis — and few bloom with greater exuberance and beauty. Just plant the bulb in good potting soil, water regularly and provide bright, indirect light. How to Plant Amaryllis Bulbs. To plant, first remove any dead, dried-out roots, then soak the fleshy roots for 1 hour. Water well, and then let drain. In that role, I maintain dozens of gardens and learn a lot in the process. Stop feeding and watering when the leaves and stalk turn yellow. But amaryllis bulbs are often purchased to grow as potted plants for holiday bloom, which is only possible if you plant the dormant bulbs at precisely the right time—about 10 to 12 weeks before desired bloom time. In regions with dry winters, it may be necessary to water the planting site deeply 24 hours before digging to make the soil easier to work with. Planting Period: October until the end of April. Its vibrant colors revive our homes during the cold months. Plant the bulbs pointed side up, to a depth that the neck of the bulb is just at the soil surface. Water sparingly until you see about 2" of new growth. Subscribe to get special offers, free giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals. Remember, if you cannot plant the bulbs immediately after receiving them, store them at a cool temperature between 40-50 degrees F. Plant bulbs in a nutritious potting compost, many are available pre-mixed. The first thing to emerge from the bulb is usually a bud. One of our most popular items, you get 10 random bulbs, at a great discount. Most of the available space has given way to trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and stonework. A support stake is handy for keeping the blooms upright, but little else is required. Amaryllis bulbs may not bloom if they are in too large a pot. Set up your planting schedule between October and April with this in mind. Step 1 Get Bulbs – Amaryllis flowers come in a variety of different colors, shapes, and sizes. Plant the bulb up to its neck in the potting compost, being careful not to damage the roots. It depends. This can be accomplished indoors or out, and over an extended period of time. How to Plant an Amaryllis Bulb Although there are many plants that are forced to bloom indoors during the winter holiday season, the popularity of the amaryllis (Hippeastrum) lies in its ease of care and its large, lily-like blooms that are so reminiscent of the flowers of summer. Actually, it doesn’t harm it to be slightly exposed at the soil surface. In some cases, the flower stalk appears first; sometimes it's the strappy leaves. F. Almost any regular potting mix/soil will do for this as amaryllis plants don’t require any specific type of soil. F), dark place such as the crisper of your refrigerator for a minimum of 6 weeks. Get in on the best deals, new products and gardening tips. Editor's Tip: Keep amaryllis flowers out of direct sun and in temperatures between 55° and 70° F to help them last longer. Keep the bulb in a cool, dry spot over summer, then cut back the foliage and start watering again in autumn. A tender perennial bulb, amaryllis does not tolerate any frost. When planting an amaryllis bulb, select a pot which is approximately 1 to 2 inches wider than the diameter of the bulb. Caution: Do not store amaryllis bulbs in a refrigerator that contains apples, this will sterilize the bulbs. Watch a potted amaryllis bulb carefully so you will know when the stem begins to grow. Plant the bulb, or place the potted bulb in a warm place with direct light since heat is necessary for the development of the stems. At this point, the stem will grow rapidly and flowers will develop after it has reached full growth. The bulb does not need to be buried deeply in the pot. Press the soil down firmly to set the bulb securely in place after planting. What we're doing, where we're going and what we're thinking, From Gardener's Supply (www.gardeners.com), © 2020 Gardener's Supply Company, 128 Intervale Road, Burlington, VT 05401 |, Amaryllis: A Tale of True Love and Horticultural Wonder, Meet One of Our South African Amaryllis Growers. You bought your own amaryllis bulb. The top of the bulb should be above the soil surface. Stay up to date on new articles and advice. Now place the bulb root side down on the gravel medium, pushing it slightly into them but leaving the top third of the bulb exposed. Caution: Do not store amaryllis bulbs in a refrigerator that contains apples, this will sterilize the bulbs. It depends. The large flowers and ease with which they can be brought to bloom make amaryllis popular and in demand worldwide. When I started working at Gardener's Supply in the 1990s, my Vermont backyard was pretty green—with grass. Make sure you place it in a warm room to get it started. When planting amaryllis in a container, use a soil mix that is designed for indoor containers. Anyone who has experienced growing an Amaryllis plant knows that a bigger bulb means bigger (and more) flowers; our premium-grade bulbs are, with few exceptions, the largest commercially available. Use a sh… deep (20 cm), so the top is about 3 in. When ever you repot amaryllis bulbs you want the top third to half of the bulb … Place a small amount of potting mix in the bottom of the pot. If you have followed our planting instructions and have kept the buibs from freezing and are not satisfied, we will gladly replace the bulbs or refund your money. To prolong the blooms, keep the pot away from heat and direct sunlight. Remove the faded flowers but let the stalk die back, as it will continue feeding the bulb. The actual Amaryllis belladonna is a beautiful flower that is related to that which we call Amaryllis. Amaryllis produces large red, pink or white blooms amongst green foliage. However, there are a few tips we want to give so you can enjoy the amaryllis for as long as possible. This is important. Continue to water and fertilize as normal all summer, or for at least 5-6 months, allowing the leaves to fully develop and grow. The amaryllis is popular because they are easy to grow. The amaryllis originated in South America's tropical regions and has the botanical name Hippeastrum. Watch a slideshow of my garden in Burlington, VT. Most varieties will begin blooming six to eight weeks after planting; some can take as long as ten weeks. Planted in mid- to late September, they should be in flower for Christmas. Be sure the pot has drainage holes in the bottom. After-Flowering. Use a John Innes No.2 potting compost or a multipurpose compost and plant the bulb so that only half its depth is below soil level. You can grow it indoors during the winter and then take it … Amaryllis bulbs will benefit from the addition of rich, organic matter. Plant bulbs 8 weeks before you would like them to bloom. Amaryllis fare best in climates with approximately 9 months of temperatures of 70ºF (21ºC) and up and 3 months of less than 60ºF (15ºC). Clean the bulb and place it in a cool (40-50 deg. The base and roots of the bulb should be placed in lukewarm water for a few hours. Do not bury the bulb. After an Amaryllis bulb blooms, remove the old flowers and continue to water and fertilize the plant until the following fall when it will need to go dormant for about 8 to 10 weeks. In winter the flowering time will be longer than in spring. Store the bulbs for a minimum of 6 weeks.Plant Again. Always store un-planted bulbs in a cool place between 40-50 deg. In areas that do not experience winter freezing, such as USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11, amaryllis can be left in the garden year-round. Leave at least one-third of the bulb above soil level. When the leaves begin to yellow, which normally occurs in the early fall, cut the leaves back to about 2 inches from the top of the bulb and remove the bulb from the soil.Bulb Storage. Plant the bulb with the base of the bulb 8 in. If you can’t put the bulb in a pot right away, store it in a cool, dry, dark place until you can. There should be no more than 1 inch of space on each side of the bulb and ⅓ of the bulb should be above the soil line. When: Amaryllis can be planted from September through April in warm weather climates, although most people prefer to have theirs in the ground by late October. There are also many striped and multicolored varieties, usually combining shades of pink or red with white. Bulbs will flower in 7-10 weeks as a general rule.