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Amaryllis can be grown indoors and outdoors. These large Lily–like flowers are available in a variety of colors and patterns and brighten any room or landscape. Amaryllis is one of the easiest flowering bulbs to bring to bloom. These plants can be propagated by cuttings, offsets or seeds.
These sun-loving plants enjoy a soil rich in nutrients and prefer a potting medium with a PH of 6.0 to 6.5. Pre-mixed fertilizers are available at retailers or you can mix your own following this general recipe:
Combine two parts loam soil to one part perlite and mix well.
(Loam soil is comprised of equal parts of silt sand and clay. Perlite is a volcanic mineral added to potting soil to help it retain moisture and nutrients. Both can be easily found at most garden centers.)
Next, add to one part of rotted manure, leaf mold or peat.
Mix until well blended.
To use in this fertilizer in an outdoor garden, spread one to 1 1/2 pounds of it for every one hundred square feet of flowerbed. The first application of fertilizer should be applied as new flower growth begins.
Whether planting indoors or outdoors amaryllis thrive best in a slightly
root–bound situation. Containers should allow for two inches of soil between the bulb and the edge of the container. Generally five to six inch plant pots are adequate. Drainage holes are necessary. Set the bulb in the ground or container and surround with soil being careful to leave the top 1/3 of the bulb uncovered. Bulbs may remain in their plant pots even when planting outdoors in the garden. The plant will tend to think it is root bound and the entire pot may be easily dug up and stored inside in the fall. Outside plantings should be spaced about one foot apart. Firmly pack the surrounding soil to secure the bulb in place. Water the area, carefully avoiding the nose of the bulb. Do not water again until roots are fully developed. Avoid over watering. Once the roots are established water regularly and maintain a slightly moist soil until flowering begins.
Amaryllis enjoys at least four to six hours of sunlight. Choose a warm sunny location with a temperature zone of 68 to 75 degrees during stem and leaf growth. This will enhance healthy stem development. Feed with a liquid or dry fertilizer every ten days.
During the blooming cycle lower the temperature to 65 degrees, remove the anthers when the bud first begins to open (before it sheds pollen) and keep the plant out of direct sunlight to prolong the life of each bloom. Generally each stem produces four blooms opening within two to three days of each other. For continuous blooming color, plant bulbs in two-week intervals. Blooming begins six to eight weeks after first growth begins.
When the flowers wither cut them off directly behind the bloom removing the green stump. Once all of the blooms have passed cut the stem all the way down to within two inches of the bulb.
Storing the bulb indoors in a cool dark area at forty to fifty degrees for a minimum of six weeks will trick the bulb into blooming once it is again exposed to sunlight. By tricking the bulbs to flower, you can plan a continuous cycle of blooms in a variety of shades and patterns. Choose from multi–colored blooms, to solids and stripes. Plan a wonderful display for your home or garden, or give a potted gift. There are many ways to enjoy the beauty and variety of Amaryllis.
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