Amaryllis are prized for their willingness to produce huge, glorious flowers indoors during the utter depths of winter – plus they are easy to save and have re-bloom year after year!

BLOOM

Put the pot in a bright and WARM spot. Amaryllis are happiest in 70-80F temps. If your home is cool, set the pot on top of a warm appliance or by a sunny window. IMPORTANT: Water ONLY when the top inch of soil is dry. Watering too often – especially until the stem 3-4” tall – can cause the bulb to rot. It can take weeks before the bulb begins to grow. Be patient and don’t overwater.  

Once a stem emerges, give your Amaryllis lots of bright light or sunshine. You may need to turn the pot daily if the tall stalk begins to lean towards the light. Once it begins to bloom, move the pot out of any direct sun, which will make the flowers last longer. As each bloom fades, snip it off close to the stalk to encourage more blooms – and even more stems! – to emerge. When there aren’t any more buds on a stem, cut off the entire stalk about 2” above the bulb. DON’T CUT OFF ANY LEAVES!

RE-BLOOM

Once your Amaryllis has finished blooming, set it in your sunniest window, continue to water when the top inch of soil is dry and begin fertilizing every month with any water-soluble fertilizer. Around May, set it outside in full-to part sun for the rest of the summer. The goal now is to encourage it to grow big, strong leaves, which will create a BIG, healthy bulb. The bigger the bulb, the more flowers it will produce!!!

In the Fall, after the first frost, cut off ALL of the foliage just above the bulb, bring the pot indoors and put it in a cool (50-60F) dark place for 8 – 10 weeks. DO NOT WATER AT ALL DURING THIS TIME! Amaryllis must go through a dormant period to develop flower buds inside the bulb. After 8-10 weeks, bring the bulb out and follow the advice to BLOOM. Amaryllis bloom best when they are pot bound so there is no need to repot them every year. Enjoy!