Amaryllis bulbs make wonderful holiday gifts. Their
large colorful long-lasting flowers are great for raising spirits through the
long cold winter. If you receive (or give!) a gift amaryllis during the
holidays, here’s what you need to know to keep your plant happy and healthy for
years to come.
Amaryllis are
tender bulb plants native to South America. They typically have a tall flower
stalk and large flowers that appear before the long strap-like leathery leaves.
Amaryllis were first ‘found’ in 1828 by Eduard Frederick Poepping, a physician
who was on a plant hunting expedition in Chile. More than 70 species of these
plants exist in the wild. However, Dutch, South African or Israeli hybrid plants
bred for larger flowers and sturdier flower stems are more common in the
commercial trade. The common name ‘Amaryllis’ is actually something of a
misnomer; true amaryllis or belladonna lilies are from South Africa. The
botanical name, Hippeastrum is the correct term and should be used to avoid
confusion with the other plant.
You
can often purchase plants in bloom
– or ready to bloom
– at florist shops or some discount retailers around the holidays. But more
frequently, just the bulbs are offered.
Hippeastrum
bulbs are usually available as a dormant bulb, or a dormant bulb packaged in a
planting kit. If the bulb is unpotted, purchase a 6-8” ‘bulb’ pot (also called
an azalea pot) that is about two inches in diameter larger than the diameter of
the bulb. For dwarf Hippeastrum bulbs, choose a smaller size pot. Use a
well-drained soil mix containing one to two parts potting soil with some peat
moss in it to one part sharp/mason’s sand or one part perlite. Pine bark should
not be included in the mix. Plant the bulb so about one-half protrudes above the
soil line. The soil line should be about one inch below the rim of the pot to
accommodate watering. After the bulb is planted and the soil gently firmed
around it, water it thoroughly. Hippeastrum bulbs generally grow one-half inch
to an inch in diameter each year. They like to be slightly pot-bound, but will
need repotting every other year or so.
Put the plant in a sunny room or window where temperatures ideally range between 65-70°F while the flower stalk is being produced. If the temperature is too high, a weak flower stalk and smaller flower is likely to result. Keep the soil slightly moist, but do not overwater as this can cause the bulb to rot. The plant will start to use more water when the roots are established.
Fertilize your
Hippeastrum once a month with a good ‘complete’ houseplant fertilizer. Good
fertility is essential for high quality blooms. A 5-10-10 or 10-10-10 fertilizer
should be strong enough. Don’t use a stronger fertilizer than this because
undesirable salts can build up in the pot and burn the roots. Be sure to follow
label directions and apply fertilizer at the rate directed for houseplants.
Six to eight
weeks after planting, the bulb should begin to flower. Now you can extend its
bloom by taking the plant out of direct sunlight and placing it in a room where
temperatures are cooler
– about 60-65°F. Two to six big, beautiful white, red,
salmon, or pink flowers are produced on a stalk that may be 18-24” tall. Some
Hippeastrum cultivars are bicolored, such as ‘Apple Blossom’, a lovely pink and
white cultivar. As each flower fades, remove it below the ovary level, taking
care not to damage the main flowering stem. When the flower stalk droops and
starts to turn brown, it can be cut off a couple of inches above the bulb neck.
By now, the leaves should have appeared.
Now you really
want to encourage the plant to grow. It should be moved back to a sunny warm
window or even outside for the summer, once the danger of frost has passed. Keep
the plant watered and fertilized while the leaves are actively growing
– they are
producing food resources for next year’s flower. If you decide to put your plant
outside for the summer, sink the pot into the ground in a lightly shaded area
with an east or west exposure. The roots are somewhat brittle, so planting the
bulb directly in the ground and digging it up later is not recommended.
In mid to late August or even earlier, the leaves will die back. Bring the plant back inside before there is any danger of frost. By September, if not earlier, Hippeastrum bulbs will enter dormancy. Remove the brown, dried leaves and store the plant in a cool dry place where the temperature is between 45-55°F. A root cellar would be great if there are no root crops or fruit present. Withhold water while the bulb is dormant. Hippeastrum bulbs require 8-10 weeks of dormancy in order to initiate flowers.
By late October or November growth will begin again, and you can look forward to another set of beautiful long-lasting flowers!
– Lisa Johnson, UWEX Horticulture Agent, Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties
