Amaryllis

The Amaryllis is a tropical bulb found growing in rocky terrain, either on hillsides or stream banks, in Central and South America. These tropical bulbs are commonly grown indoors in the United States as our winter temperatures damage them. The magnificent large flowers bloom late fall to early winter and last for several weeks. The long 12-24" stems can support a cluster of 3-6 flowers. The flowers are red, orange, white, pink, or white combined with a color.
Purchase dormant bulbs in the fall or early winter. They look like giant daffodils, and the foliage has been cropped away about an inch above the bulb. These bulbs are ready to be potted and are often showing signs of new growth.

The Amaryllis will be top heavy when in bloom, so choose your pot carefully. A heavy clay pot (wider than it is tall) should work well. The pot should be one to one and one half inches wider than the bulb. Make sure there is a good-sized drainage hole in the pot. Put about one inch of pea gravel in the bottom to improve drainage and add weight.

Place the bulb so that the neck and shoulders of the bulb are above the soil. Using a high quality potting mix (i.e. Merrifield Potting Mix), press the soil gently and firmly around the base of the bulb.

Put the potted Amaryllis in a bright sunny window with at least a half-day of sun. Make sure there are no drafts, as the Amaryllis prefers temperatures to be 70 ° or above.

Water sparingly until signs of growth appear. Once growth appears, check more frequently and water more often. Use a stake, i.e. bamboo stalk, to support the stem as it grows. Rotate the container frequently to keep the stem from leaning to one side.

Amaryllis typically bloom 4-8 weeks after planting. When the flowers fade, cut the stem down to the foliage. Water once a month through the winter with an all purpose water-soluble fertilizer.

Move the Amaryllis outside in late spring into a bright location, avoiding direct sunlight until the plant acclimates. Remove the plant and put it directly in the soil, or plant the entire pot. Continue to fertilize through the summer. With rainfall and warmth, the bulb will replenish itself and produce lush, green foliage.

Remove the pot/plant from the soil in September and stop watering. Let the soil dry out. The bulb will go dormant, and the foliage will yellow and die. Remove the dead foliage. Store the bulb in a cool, dry place at about 50 °. Repot if the bulb has outgrown the container. In six to eight weeks, resume watering and a new stem will emerge. The process then begins again, and can be repeated for many years.