When to plant amaryllis bulbs
Cheer up the house during the coldest months of the year by forcing amaryllis bulbs indoors to enjoy their decorative, trumpety blooms.
Why plant amaryllis bulbs?
Fancy fresh flowers in winter? Amaryllis can provide. Their bumper bulbs are quick to grow, meaning you can plant them in autumn and enjoy their impressive petals over Christmas.
The large, trumpet-shaped blooms are grown indoors and emerge in twos or threes on top of tall stems. As well as brilliant, festive red, the flowers come in icy white, sugar plum pink and (there’s a theme emerging) some seriously wild, candy-cane stripes.
When to plant amaryllis bulbs
Amaryllis don’t hang about. After planting, the chunky bulbs tend to flower indoors within 8-10 weeks. Stick them in compost in September or October for blooms over Christmas. Or plant them in the New Year for an Easter extravaganza, just as other spring flowering bulbs are bursting to life.
How to plant amaryllis bulbs
Find a pot with drainage holes that will provide a tight fit. Amaryllis like to be squished in, with just a couple of centimetres of compost around them on all sides.
Some people plant one bulb per pot. Or you could plant three together for a larger, fan-faring display.
Plant each bulb in peat-free compost so that two-thirds of the top is still showing over the surface.
Pop the pot on a saucer in a warm, bright spot. Water it sparingly until foliage starts to show, but don’t let the compost dry out completely.
Amaryllis bulb care
Once the green shoot of your amaryllis bulb emerges, water it more often and rotate the pot every now and then to stop the stem growing off at a rakish angle towards the light.
Stake the stem as it grows to avoid accidents once the top-heavy flower comes into its own.
Move the plant to a cooler place in the house while it’s flowering to extend the time it blooms for
Do amaryllis bulbs come back?
Yes! Like many bulbs, amaryllis are perennial and, with a little TLC they’ll bloom every year.
Here’s how to ensure they’ll make a comeback:
- Once your amaryllis has flowered, cut the stem down to the base, keeping the leaves intact.
- Keep watering the plant and give it a cheeky splash of houseplant feed each week.
- In late spring and summer, move the pot outside or into the greenhouse. Don’t forget to keep watering it regularly.
- When September comes back around, move the pot to a light, but cool spot for 8-10 weeks and stop feeding or watering it.
- Cut any old foliage back to 10cm from the bulb and replace the top couple of inches of compost. Your bulb should be magically revived and start sprouting again, ready to gift you with more festive flowers.
Completely repot your amaryllis bulbs every couple of years after they’ve flowered. Refreshing the compost will give them a boost and keep ensure they stay healthy. If your plants have produced new bulblets, separate them off and treat them to their own pots.
