Amaryllis are beautiful additions to your home during the winter months. Besides water and sunlight, there are other tips and tricks for successfully growing amaryllises.
Amaryllises can be purchased as bulbs from lawn and garden centers. Boxed kits are also sold, each of which includes a bulb, pot and potting soil. Or, you can buy amaryllises that are already potted.
1. Planting and feeding
If you purchase a bulb from a lawn and garden store, choose a pot large enough to fit the bulb while leaving some room on all sides.
Make sure the pot you choose to plant your flower in has drainage holes in the bottom. Put some potting soil in the pot, then place the bulb in the pot and finish by adding more potting soil. Cover all but one-third of the top of the bulb with potting soil.
You don’t need to fertilize your amaryllis until it blooms. At that time, you can use houseplant fertilizer like 5-10-5 or 5-10-10, University of Illinois Extension says.
2. Don’t overwater
Some plants need a lot of watering soon after they are planted, but amaryllises don’t.
University of Illinois Extension recommends checking the soil to determine if the plant needs to be watered; if the soil is moist, it doesn’t need watered. If the soil gets too wet, it may mold, which could affect the plant.
Empty any water sitting in the dish underneath the pot after watering, North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension says.
3. Rotate daily
Like all flowers, amaryllises will stretch toward the source of light, so it’s important to rotate the flower’s pot by a half turn each day so it grows upright. If you leave the pot in the same position, the amaryllis will begin to bend toward the light, be it the sun coming in through the window or artificial light.
4. Regulate temperatures
North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension explains that most plants grow best between 65 degrees F and 75 degrees F. Maintaining your home’s indoor temperature between these temperatures will help your amaryllis grow. Putting your flower in a cooler spot in your home will help blossoms last longer.
5. Cut back stems
An amaryllis will typically flower after 3-6 weeks if placed in a sunny location.
Once flower growth fades, cut back the stems of your plant. Cut the stem at about one inch above the bulb. You can leave the leaves on the plant, according to University of Illinois Extension.
Have any other questions about growing amaryllises? Let us know in the comments below.
Related:
- How to grow herbs indoors
- How to grow vegetables indoors over winter
- Take care of houseplants this winter
- Poinsettias not so poisonous: Tips on keeping your plant healthy all year
