Introduction
The familiar red Amaryllis flower
The Amaryllis bulb produces spectacular blooms in bright colors. As a result it has become very popular around the world. Amaryllis bulbs are offered for sale online as well as in the local big box stores, especially late fall towards the Christmas Holiday. People love to add some spring color to their homes in the middle of the winter.
- Planting Period: October-April
- Flowering Period: December-June
- Flowering Time: 7-10 weeks.
- Larger Bulbs produce bigger & more flowers
- Always store un-planted Bulbs in a cool place 40-50F
Amaryllis bulbs originated in the South America Tropics.
Botanical Name: Hippeastrum.
Cultivated indoors or in Florida also outside.
There is a variety of shades of White, Red, Pink, Orange & Salmon.
Planting
Plant bulbs up to 2/3 from the base of bulb in potting mix. Press the soil down firmly to set the bulb in pot. If planting outside, you may plant the bulb up to its neck in the soil.
Environment
Place in direct light. Ideal temperature: 68-70F to initiate growth.
Water sparingly until the bud appears. Two or three buds are common in large bulbs.
Water more as the stem grows and leaves appear.
Blooms
To achieve continuous blooms, plant multiple bulbs at intervals of 2 weeks.
After Bloom Care
After flowering, the Amaryllis can be forced to bloom again. Cut the old flowers from the stem. When the stem starts to sag, cut the stem back to the bulb. Do not cut the Leaves!
Double blooms
Growth
Continue to water & fertilize all summer, 5-6 months, allowing the leaves to fully develop and grow, which in turn develop and replenish the bulb. In early fall, when the leaves begin to yellow, cut the leaves back to 2” from the top of the bulb & remove the bulb from the soil.
Bulb Storage
multiple colors available including white
Clean the Bulb and place it a cool place or in the crisper [40-50F] for a minimum of 6 weeks. DO NOT STORE in the refrigerator that contains APPLES! The gasses emitted by the apple has a bad effect on the bulb.
Plant Again!
Plant the bulbs 8 weeks before you would like them to bloom.
Propagation
Amaryllis can the propagated in several ways, including:
1. Baby bulbs
When the Amaryllis bulb grows bigger over time with the right treatment baby bulbs, called bulbils, may develop on the basal plate (root base) of the bulb. This event may become apparent when a leaf appears from under the bulb on the outside of the bulb. After one year the baby bulb should be big enough to be removed from the mother and potted on its own. After two to three years the baby will start flowering.
2. Seeds
Like any flower an Amaryllis bloom may produce seeds. For seeds to develop the flower needs to be pollinated. The Amaryllis flower in the garden will get visitors in the form of bees, butterflies and other pollinators. For indoor blooming Amaryllis the owner may act as pollinator. With a Q-tip, or small brush the pollen can be collected from the stamen and applied to the sticky top of the pistil. If successful the small green ball at the base of the flower starts to grow after the bloom wilts and falls off. The seeds grow inside this seed pod.
Two years after starting from seed
Seeds are harvested when the seed pod dries out and begins to pop open. The dark brown seeds are 1/3 inch in diameter, round and flat, razor thin and almost transparent. They can be planted right away. The seeds germinate in 2-3 weeks. The leaves initially look like grass. After several months a bulb is seen developing at the base of the leaves. After two years the bulbs are up to two inches in diameter and the first ones may start blooming with a single stem with two flowers.
Article by Faith Kaskisto
Photography by Faith Kaskisto