by Jeanne

Among the many holiday flowers, my favorite is the amaryllis.  Its large, showy flowers are perfect to chase away the winter blues on the shortest days of the year, and most amaryllis bulb kits are relatively inexpensive.  Amaryllis flowers come white, red, pink, salmon, and striped colors. Best of all, they’re fairly easy to grow.

Like many of our Holiday plants, amaryllis originally hail from South America.  They remain dormant in cool conditions around 45 degrees Fahrenheit; they grow and bloom when the temperatures reach around 70-75 Fahrenheit, with room temperatures of 68 – 70F the ideal.

Like the Christmas cactus, you can time their blooming period by planting them just about 7 to 10 weeks before you want them in full bloom.  The good news is that you can trick them into a second bloom by snipping off the spent flowers and keeping them well-water.

When you purchase an amaryllis bulb, look for large, healthy bulbs.  The old rule of thumb about flower bulbs holds true for the amaryllis – the larger the flower bulb, the larger the flower.  Use a pot with drainage holes and a rich potting mixture. Plant the bulb with the pointy “neck” side facing up and the roots in the soil.  The soil should come just to the point where the bulb’s neck joins the full round bulb.  Most amaryllis bulb kits provide a good planting diagram either on the box or in the instructions that come with the bulb.  Be sure to look at the picture. The most common mistake newcomers to growing amaryllis make is planting the bulbs too deeply.  They sometimes refuse to flower and even rot if planted too deeply.

Choose the sunniest location in your home, preferably a very bright south or southeast window for your amaryllis bulb.  The warmer, the better.  They need warmth and bright sunlight to do their best.

The temptation will be to water your amaryllis bulb frequently, but water is very sparingly until the tips bring forth green shoots and leaves. At this point, your bulb has broken out of its dormancy and is vibrant and alive.  It needs more water and will grow rapidly until it produces the telltale flower stalk.

The flowers can be heavy, and if the stalk begins flopping over, you may need a slender green wooden dowel or stake to use as a support for the flowers.

You can enjoy your amaryllis as a houseplant and even move it outdoors for the summertime. In early fall, cut the leaves back to about two inches and remove the entire bulb from the soil. Clean the bulb by brushing the dirt off with a soft cloth and store it in a very cool place, around 45 degrees.  Never store bulbs in the refrigerator if you keep apples in the fridge; they exude a gas that can sterilize the bulbs.  Keep the bulbs cool and they will remain dormant. When fall returns, and it is about 7 weeks before Christmas, plant them again to enjoy next season.