While winter offers its own unique beauty, the absence of vibrant foliage and blooming flowers can sometimes leave us longing for the warmer months. The bustling cityscapes, often shrouded in snow, can feel less inviting. However, there’s a way to bring a touch of springtime cheer to your winter: the stunning Amaryllis plant. By planting these bulbs in the fall, you can anticipate the emergence of their magnificent red blooms, adding a splash of color to your home during the bleakest winter days.
Each bulb grows one to three stems with 4-8 star-shaped funnel flowers each stem ranging in color from white to red or pink. Later long, wide green leaves will appear next to the flower stems.
They typically bloom in January, so planting amaryllises is a great way to spruce up your home during the chilly months and begin the year with a cheerful heart. Plus, if you follow our steps for taking care of your bulb, you will be able to recycle the same plant year after year and enjoy its blooms every winter.
How to Grow an Amaryllis
Here are five key steps to growing Amaryllis indoors:
- Plant the Bulb in Well-Draining Soil. Use a pot that is slightly larger than the bulb, with drainage holes. Fill it with well-draining potting soil, leaving the top third of the bulb exposed.
- Provide Bright, Indirect Light. Place the pot in a location with bright, indirect sunlight. A south-facing window is ideal. Rotate the pot occasionally to encourage straight growth.
- Water Sparingly at First.Water lightly after planting to settle the soil. Keep the soil barely moist until growth appears, then increase watering to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
- Maintain Warm Temperatures. Keep the plant in a warm room, ideally between 65–75°F (18–24°C). Warmer temperatures will encourage faster growth.
- Support the Bloom Stalks. Once the flower stalks begin to grow, provide support if needed to prevent them from bending under the weight of the blooms.
After flowering, you can cut back the spent blooms and continue caring for the plant to encourage re-blooming the following year!
Caring for Your Amaryllis After Bloom
To ensure your Amaryllis blooms again next year, follow these simple steps:
- Trim the Stalk: Once the flower has faded, use a sharp knife to cut the stalk about 6 inches above the bulb.
- Maintain the Leaves: Keep the leaves intact as they continue to photosynthesize and provide energy to the bulb.
- Outdoor Exposure: As temperatures rise, gradually expose the potted Amaryllis to filtered sunlight outdoors.
- Consistent Watering: Water regularly during the growing season, keeping the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
- Dormancy Period: In late September, move the pot to a cool, dark location (like a basement or garage) to induce a dormant period.
- Reblooming Preparation: In December, bring the pot back into a warm, sunny location. Water regularly and watch it bloom again!
- Rotate the Pot: Rotate the pot periodically to ensure even growth and prevent the plant from leaning towards the light source.
Amaryllis Brings Beauty to Winter
At Naturescapes, we recommend Amaryllis bulbs as wonderful holiday gifts. Not only will they lift the spirits of people missing the colors of spring, but they continue to bring joy year after year.
Patti, one of our landscape design customers, sent us this note saying, “What a lovely surprise to find the gift you left on my doorstep last week. I am excited to see the amaryllis bloom. How very thoughtful. Thank you and Merry Christmas. We are so excited to see our amaryllis bloom!”
