Growing Your Amaryllis

I know that we're still getting into the swing of fall, but sometimes you need to look a little further ahead to be properly prepared. I mean, I don't know many people that wait until the last weeks before to do their holiday shopping. That doesn't give you enough time, or at least leaves you so little that you feel rushed! Not all things can be rushed, though, and that includes your holiday flowers.

Now, when I think of holiday flowers, it’s not the poinsettia that comes to mind. In my house there were always at least two pots of amaryllis bulbs going at any given time (there still are). Amaryllises are my absolute favorite flower, with their large blooms and vibrant colors. If you want one of these blooming beauties in your home this season, believe it or not, you'll want to start preparing one sooner rather than later!

(My first bloom from last season)

You always see amaryllis kits as soon as Christmas decorations start coming out, but if you wait until you decorate for Christmas you probably won't have your flowers in time! Amaryllises generally take at least 6 – 8 weeks to bloom, and can continue to bloom long after those initial buds finally open! (I started late last year, the middle of November, and my blooms lasted from late December to the beginning of February!)

To start, you’ll want to find a healthy bud and a planting system that works for you! When looking for a bulb, you’ll either want to look through boxes you’re able to open or head to a local nursery. The local nursery will actually have open boxes of bulbs for you to choose from. You’ll want to make sure that your bulb looks healthy for the best chance at success. Look for a bulb that has green showing or a stem that’s already starting to grow. If your amaryllis doesn't come with a kit, you’ll also need a clay pot and a rich, well drained potting soil.

Many kits come as just glass vases with river stones, on which the amaryllis bulb sits atop. Care for these kits is simple: fill the vase so that the water just touches the bottom of the bulb and then place your vase in the window. Fill as needed, and change water as needed if it starts to smell foul. This is how I usually grow my bulbs: it gives you a better sense of how much water your bulb needs to stay healthy, and the walls of the vase also provide stability as your stalks start to grow.

If your bulb is going into potting soil, fill your contain of choice a little more than half way with soil, place your bulb on top, and then fill the rest of the way so that at least half of the bulb is sticking out of the top. Keep a saucer at the bottom of the pot to retain excess water. You don’t need to water your new bulbs too much, even in the soil: just make sure to water it 1 to 2 times a week while it’s growing, then maybe 2 to 3 times a week while it’s blooming.

Keep your bulbs in a sunny, warm windowsill and you'll be rewarded with weeks’ worth of beautiful, holiday blooms! 

(My second, super tall bloom from last season)

(My short, third bloom from last season)