Bulbs
Photo by : Lynn Whitt / Shutterstock
With their ability to produce large , vibrantly colored prime indoors in the astuteness of winter , amaryllis plants touch the painted leaf as one of the most popular holiday blossom . The spectacular trumpet - form bloom brighten the dismal 24-hour interval and forthwith banish the winter doldrums . And count on when you implant it , amaryllis can actually flower through other bounce , enhancing your habitation with its floral beaut until the outside planting time of year arrives .
On this page : Basics|Growing Indoors|Growing Outdoors|Pictures|Buying Tips
On this pageboy :
BASICS
Botanical name:
Hippeastrum
Plant type:
A tropical medulla oblongata , native to South Africa and South America .
Zones:
Typically grown indoors ; however , can also be grown outdoors in the garden as perennial in Robert Lee Frost - free areas of the South and West ( Zones 8 - 10 ) .
Bloom time:
When grown outdoors , amaryllis will naturally flower in bounce .
Height:
12 to 36 inches
Flower size:
Six to ten inches across , usually produces three or four flowers per stem .
Colors/varieties:
Typically in various shades of red , white , pink , blab out , or apricot , but there are also many striped , multicolored , and picotee extract ; as well as doubly - flowered and dwarf variety .
Precautions:
All voice of the industrial plant can be toxic if ingested , peculiarly the bulb . Keep away from children and pets .
AMARYLLIS CARE & GROWING: INDOORS
Photo by : Sarycheva Olesia / Shutterstock
When to plant:
October until the end of April . It commonly takes six to eight weeks for amaryllis to bloom . ( Plant in November for New Year ’s blooms , February for Easter flowers . )
Planting:
Place the lightbulb in pot mix pointed terminate up , with its " neck opening " and “ shoulders " above the grime surface . Place in a warm , well - light spot ( such as a south - facing windowpane ) until the electric light sprout . emergence generally begins in two to eight week . chronological succession plant life multiple bulbs for continuous bloom throughout wintertime .
Container:
Choose a heavy pot , such as corpse or ceramic , to counterbalance the weight of the large flowers . Amaryllis flower best when jackpot - bound , so the container should only be an inch or two wider than the bulb . Make certain your container has near drainage holes .
Support:
Once your plant takes off , a support post may be needed to give the flush stem just .
Soil:
Average potting soil work alright , but the addition of perlite or sand will serve to ameliorate drain and prevent soggy grunge .
Water:
Give the light bulb a good watering at planting fourth dimension , and then H2O slenderly until growth starts . Overwatering when you first pot an amaryllis can get bulb rot and poor beginning development . After the plant start to arise foliage , keep the grunge slightly moist . lacrimation once a workweek should be sufficient , depending on the heat and humidity in your home .
Lighting/temperature:
Since amaryllis are native to the tropics , warmth and sunlight will encourage them to break quiescency . Place newly pot bulbs in a brightly lit elbow room at 65 ° to 75 ° F. Once they start out blossom , move them out of verbatim sunlight and into a cool location to keep up the flower menses . Turn the wad a little every day to prevent your plant from tilt toward the light germ .
Fertilizer:
A healthy amaryllis bulb contains all the food it need to bloom . But if you plan to keep your plant for reblooming next year , feed it regularly with awater - soluble houseplant fertiliser .
Growing in water:
It ’s also possible to get an amaryllis in piss in a well-defined chicken feed container . Nestle the roots around a base of pebbles and keep the water storey no high than the base of the bulb , change it periodically . Be aware that this mature method can deplete the bulb ’s reserve , so is not recommend if you want to keep the incandescent lamp for reblooming next twelvemonth .
After blooming:
After all the peak have faded , remove the stubble but leave the foliage entire . It will develop the fuel the bulb needs to flower again next year . With right care , an amaryllis light bulb can last for tenner , but it demand a repose period to refill its resources . The horticulturist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offertips on getting your amaryllis to bloom again .
AMARYLLIS CARE & GROWING: OUTDOORS
photograph by : Gau Meo / Shutterstock
Plant the bulbs in early surrender for efflorescence the undermentioned spring . Once indoor - grown plants have finished blooming , they can be transplanted outdoors after being gradually acclimated to outdoor temperature and light .
Where to plant:
Amaryllis will do best when found in a location that welcome partial shade and in well - drain stain .
How to plant:
Plant alike to indoors , cervix rich , leave alone the top 1/3 of the bulb sticking up out of the territory .
Water well at planting and keep moist through the growing season . middling drought tolerant once established .
Apply a balanced fertilizer once growth start in spring , following package directions .
Cut back the flower stalking when done blooming . Let the foliage exit back completely before removing it ( it is pile up energy for next year ’s flowers ) . The lightbulb can ride out in the ground untended , where they will proceed to re - flower and multiply for years to come .
PICTURES
photograph : Yundengogo / Shutterstock
elephantine Amadeus(Hippeastrum‘Giant Amadeus ’ )
good assets : duple - blooming , with tremendous frilly clean heyday enhance by rose - gloss veining and pale dark-green throats .
exposure : Catherine M Hollander / Shutterstock
Red Lion(Hippeastrum‘Red Lion ’ )
Best assets : Velvety crimson petals create a breathless holiday showing .
Also try : Hippeastrum‘Ferrari ’ , another vacation classic with inscrutable violent blooms , coif off by white anther .
Photo : Sarycheva Olesia / Shutterstock
Minerva(Hippeastrum‘Minerva ’ )
Best assets : Extra - large lipstick - red petals with prominent white markings imprint the soma of a star . Grows up to 2 foot tall .
Also prove : Hippeastrum‘Stargazer ’ , another burnished - ruby foul-up with well - specify white champion .
Photo : Anne Kitzman / Shutterstock
Apple Blossom(Hippeastrum‘Apple Blossom ’ )
near asset : A midwinter breath of outpouring , with creamy blanched blossoms , mild pink veining , and lime green throat . Each heyday husk produce four or more blooms .
Photo : george photo cm / Shutterstock
Alfresco(Hippeastrum‘Alfresco ’ )
Best assets : princely double lily-white flowers stress by chartreuse - green middle . Shorter , stouter stems put up good proportional balance and support .
photograph : Flying Mouse / Shutterstock
Picotee(Hippeastrum‘Picotee ’ )
safe assets : Pure lily - white petals crisply outlined in red . Elegant and sophisticated .
BULB BUYING TIPS
WHERE TO BUY AMARYLLIS BULBS ONLINE:
Updated : 2025-02-27
