Is it Christmas or January?
One of my favorite holiday flowers is the Amaryllis. This beauty has flowers that range in size from six to ten inches—and all this from a bulb that ranges in size from three to five inches. Now, some people grow amaryllis as an annual—that is, they enjoy the blooms and then toss them when they’re finished.
It’s Easy to Bloom Amaryllis Again
Many years ago, I did the same thing. Then, I found that blooming them again wasn’t nearly as complicated as I thought. I buy the loose bulbs—sure, you can find them already potted everywhere, but I shop where I can find the bulbs—that way, I can pick out a good one.
How to Take Care of These Beauties
I move the bulb into a pot with good drainage that is about one to two inches bigger around than the bulb. You do not want to overpot. I water it until it drains out the bottom and place it into a sunny window. I check the soil with my finger a couple of times a week and water it when the top 1/3 to 1/2 of the soil is dry to the touch. Every time I water it, I turn the pot a quarter turn to keep the emerging flower stem straight (they grow toward the light).
Next Steps Post Blooming
I admire the gorgeous flowers while they’re blooming. When they stop blooming, I cut the flower stems back to just above the bulb and let the newly emerged leaves continue to grow. About a month after they’ve finished blooming, I begin to feed them with African violet food (African violet food is, after all, a blossom booster).
Now, it’s letting the bulb grow to feed itself for next year’s flower. Once all danger of frost is past in the spring (end of April, first of May), I put the pot outside where it gets good dappled sun all day, remembering to keep it watered and fed.
To bloom it again for Christmas, bring it inside around Labor Day. Let it go totally dry, and then cut the foliage back to the top of the bulb. Place it in a closet, attic, or basement—any place that’s dark for the next 10 weeks. Place it in a sunny window and begin watering it around the first or second week of November. By Christmas, it should be blooming.
OR you can do what I do. I don’t bring mine out of dormancy until AFTER Thanksgiving. At Christmas, I’m busy visiting family and friends. If my amaryllis blooms, I’ll admire it on my way out the door. When it blooms in mid-end January, the tree is taken down, and the days are dim and dark. I NEED the beauty of the amaryllis.
However you do them, amaryllis are gorgeous. Enjoy!