The Amaryllis, also known as the Hippeastrum, is a flower species with beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers in a variety of colours that will brighten up their surroundings. Have you bought amaryllis bulbs, and would you like to know how to care for amaryllis? In this blog post, we share our best tips and tricks about how to take care of and grow amaryllis to give you the longest possible enjoyment of your plant.
Quick guide:
- Season: Indoors, during autumn and winter
- Store: A dry place with air circulation between 40–70 °F
- Soil: Fresh potting soil
- Water: Water well once to settle it in. Afterward, keep the soil moist
- Place: Bright spot. Turn the plant regularly
- After blooming: Remove faded flowers, but allow the leaves to develop. Let the potted bulb dry out, and place it in a dark, cool spot for 10–12 weeks
Why Are Amaryllis Flowers So Popular?
Amaryllis are one of the most popular indoor bulbs. Their huge, lily-like blooms in shades of red, pink, apricot, yellow, and white are a welcome sight during winter and spring. A favorite with florists and gardeners alike, amaryllis flowers make a fabulous centerpiece in every household.
1. What Is The Best Period To Plant Amaryllis Indoors?
Amaryllis bulbs will grow and bloom about 6–8 weeks after you plant them. If you plan to grow the flower plants indoors, you can plant them at any time during the fall and winter. They are suitable for indoor use in any climate zone.
2. How To Store Amaryllis Bulbs?
Did your package with DutchGrown amaryllis bulbs arrive? It’s good to know you can’t plant them immediately. So it is important to store the bulbs correctly. Unpack your package and put the bulbs in a dry place with a lot of air circulation. The temperature needs to be between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (ca. 21 °C).
3. How To Plant Amaryllis Bulbs?
Choose a pot just big enough for the amaryllis bulb and plant it in fresh potting soil so that the tip is showing above the soil. Water well once to settle it in, and afterward, keep the soil moist. Place the amaryllis in a bright spot and turn the pot regularly as the flower stalk (flower stem) starts to grow into beautiful flower buds and trumpet-shaped flowers.
Learn more: How To Water Amaryllis For Magnificent Blooms?
4. What To Do With Amaryllis After They Finish Blooming?
When the flowers fade, remove them from the amaryllis, but allow the leaves to develop. They will grow through the spring and die back at the end of summer. Allow the potted plant to dry out, and place the pot in a dark, cool spot for 10–12 weeks. Then bring it back to life by watering it and moving it back into the light, and the amaryllis blooms again.
Planted Amaryllis Outside? Here Is How To Care For It
Do you want to grow an amaryllis plant outside? If you live in climate zones 9–11, it is possible, otherwise it is not. Follow the steps below for planting amaryllis outdoors:
- Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil and plant any time between September through April.
- Plant the bulbs 8"–12" (around 20–30 cm) apart and with 1" (around 2.5 cm) of the bulb peeking above the surface of the soil.
- Water well, and the bulbs should bloom by mid-spring.
- After blooming, leave the foliage to grow through the summer and die back in the fall. Then, you can see the amaryllis bloom again next spring.
Choose Your Favorite Amaryllis Bulbs At DutchGrown
Now that you’ve learned how to care for amaryllis and how easy it is to grow these showy beauties, explore our amaryllis bulb collection to choose your favorites. We ship jumbo-sized amaryllis bulbs (32+ cm) from Holland that will produce at least 3 or 4 flower stalks (flower stems) and at least 4 flowers each. Order your favorite plant bulbs, and we will start shipping by the end of October.
