Amaryllis

Amaryllis’ vibrant, trumpet-shaped blooms and their long, graceful stems are elegant additions to your holiday décor. Originally from South America, the dramatic flowers come in crimson, scarlet, rose, lavender, white or bi-colored combinations. Each stem produces one cluster consisting of two to four blooms. Some of the individual blossoms can be eight inches in diameter at their peak, on a stem that can be up 2 feet tall.

Blooming amaryllis are so striking that many people don’t realize how easy they are to grow for beautiful blooms indoors, making the amaryllis a lovely hostess gift.

If you want a bold bloom in time for the holidays, purchase a bulb or an amaryllis bulb kit now and plant it in early November. Before planting keep your amaryllis bulbs or Hippeastrum in a cool place, between 40-50F degrees. These cool temperatures will keep your bulbs dormant.

Amaryllis bulbs should be planted in containers that are only a just slightly larger in diameter than the bulbs themselves. Be sure your container provides good drainage so excess water can drain away. Pour a layer of Al’s potting soil into the bottom of the container, then place the bulb so that the pointed narrow end is facing up. Press the soil in tight around the bulb, leaving about 1/3 of the bulb above the soil level. Then water thoroughly to establish good bulb-to-soil contact. Place in a sunny windowsill and start watching for signs of new growth.

Water sparingly until the stem appears, then, as the bud and leaves appear, gradually water more. At this point, the stem will grow rapidly and flowers will develop after it has reached full growth. The blooms will last longer if you keep the plant in a cool location, around 65 degrees F. If kept in warmer environments, the flower stalks may become weak and require staking to support the weight of the blossoms. Your plant should bloom within 6 weeks, just in time to show-off for the holidays!

Don’t limit your enjoyment of amaryllises to the holidays. They’re the perfect plant to chase away winter blues. And after the holidays, who doesn’t need a little horticultural therapy? The speed with which these giant bulbs put forth stems and buds (and a few leaves) is amazing. Instant gratification. And the dramatic flowers are huge. And long lasting.