Although amaryllis are typically only sold around the holidays, they can be grown successfully year-round and bloom again as long as they receive proper care.
What do you do with an amaryllis after it blooms?
After your amaryllis flowers fade , worry not. Just cut the flower stem off near the neck of the bulb. Be careful not to injure the leaves or any emerging flower stalks. The leaves are needed to replenish the bulb so it can bloom again next year.
How many flowers does an amaryllis have?
They originated in the tropical areas of South America, thus are tender perennials and grown as houseplants. Amaryllis are typically sold as bulbs. When potted and forced into bloom, long, strap-like leaves and one or more tall, thick floral stalks topped with two to six large flowers emerge from the bulb.
How long do amaryllis flowers last?
Your amaryllis flowers can actually last longer when cut and put in a vase. These bold plants look stunning for up to three weeks when properly handled and cared for. Besides the benefit of a gorgeous floral arrangement, cutting your flowers can help your amaryllis bulb bloom again.
Will amaryllis bulbs multiply?
Plant bulbs in drifts in your garden for a big show of color. They should bloom the following year, around Mother’s Day. If you live in the Upper or Middle South, you can leave your amaryllis in their pots for years. They will multiply and like being crowded.
Can you leave bulbs in pots?
You can grow virtually any bulb in containers , and you can mix different types of bulbs together, too. ... Start with a container with drainage holes so that excess water can escape, and plant your bulbs in the fall. Most spring-blooming bulbs prefer well-drained soil and will rot and die if they stay too wet for too long.
How do you store amaryllis for next year?
To store the bare bulb, carefully lift the bulb out of the soil and brush off the soil. Store the bulb in a paper bag or a box with peat, sawdust or perlite . Allow the pot, or the bulb to remain in that cool place — without watering for at least six weeks, usually 8 to 10 weeks.
When should I put amaryllis in the dark?
Timing Amaryllis Blooms for Christmas
In late summer , bring your amaryllis inside and place it in a sunny spot. Stop watering and feeding. The leaves, flowers, and stems will begin to fade. Once they have yellowed, cut them off and move the plant to a cool, dark place with temperatures between 55-60 degrees.
Can I leave my amaryllis in the ground?
Amaryllis bulbs can be planted directly in the ground in areas where temperatures do not go below 10°F (Zones 8-10), or in zone 7 for cold-tolerant species that we sell for spring planting. ... Be sure to leave the foliage on the plant so the leaves can produce food that will be stored in the bulbs.
Should I cut off dead amaryllis flowers?
Remove dead flowers from the stem as each blossom passes . Once all buds have bloomed and flowering is complete, cut the entire stem one to tow inches above the bulb. Leaves should be left on the plant until they turn yellow as they provide nutrients for the bulb so it will rebloom the next year.
Does amaryllis need full sun?
In spring, it sends up 10- to 24-inch stems that produce red softball-size trumpet-shaped blooms with white stripes. Like most flowering bulbs, amaryllis prefer full sun and well-drained soil .
Do amaryllis flower every year?
They are often commonly, but incorrectly, known as amaryllis. By following a few easy tips, these showy, beautiful flowers will bloom year after year for you.
Can you use amaryllis as a cut flower?
When and How to Cut the Stems
Use a sharp knife to cut the stem just an inch or so above the bulb. Amaryllis stems are hollow, so take care to support the stem as you’re cutting. Put the flowers in a tall, clean vase of room temperature water and then move the vase to a cool place for a few hours or overnight.
How long does it take amaryllis to grow from bulb?
Just plant the bulb in good potting soil, water regularly and provide bright, indirect light. A support stake is handy for keeping the blooms upright, but little else is required. Most varieties will begin blooming six to eight weeks after planting; some can take as long as ten weeks .
How do you take care of an amaryllis plant in the winter?
Dig your bulb up and store it in a cool, dry, dark place (like a basement) for anywhere between 4 and 12 weeks. Amaryllis bulbs in winter go dormant, so they won’t need any water or attention. When you want to plant your bulb, place it in a pot not much bigger than the bulb, with its shoulders above the soil.
Do amaryllis plants spread?
In order for your amaryllis to multiply itself or self propagate by growing additional bulbs, you will have to take excellent care of it. This way, it will have the energy to not only thrive and bloom, but will have extra energy to grow extra bulbs.
