Amaryllis Guide

Learn how to grow Amaryllis Bulbs—it’s easy! These festive blooms will brighten even the coldest winter days are are excellent for holiday decor and gifting.

Planting Tips for Amaryllis Bulbs

You can either use our Growing Kit or provide your own pot and growing media.

1. If you purchased our Growing Kit, place the soil disc in a bowl and add warm water (see instructions on disk for required measurement). Set aside until water is completely absorbed by the compressed disc and soil volume has increased. Loosen the moist soil before placing it in the provided container.

2. Pot up the Amaryllis bulb leaving the top third of the bulb exposed.

3. Water once with lukewarm water right after potting, then sparingly until you see the tip of the bud appear. Then you can water regularly, allowing soil to dry to the touch between waterings.

4. Place your pot in or near a bright, warm window with indirect sunlight.

 
Planting Amaryllis Outdoors

If you garden in USDA Zones 8, 9 or 10, you can plant Amaryllis bulbs outdoors! Allow the bulbs to grow inside until all danger of frost has passed and then plant them in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Outdoors, Amaryllis naturally bloom in the spring, so you’ll get to enjoy Amaryllis for twice as long!

Amaryllis Bulb Growing Tips

Amaryllis are easy to grow and enjoy, but a few tips from our expert growers may extend their flowering and your enjoyment.

• If the bulb has already started growing, plant it as soon as possible and the flower stalk will straighten itself out.
• All plants grow towards light, so turning the pot or planter regularly will ensure straight stems.
• Spread decorative stone or marbles over the soil for a finished look and to prevent tipping when the Amaryllis is in full bloom.
• Keep your potted bulb away from drafty doors and windows. Amaryllis are tropical bulbs and prefer temperatures around 70°F (20°C).
• Water weekly or when soil is dry to the touch and apply a water-soluble fertilizer every four weeks.
• When Amaryllis blooms fade, cut off the tubular flower stems near the top of the bulb, leaving the foliage to continue growing.
• You can plant multiple Amaryllis kits in two week intervals for a constant parade of color during the winter months!

Getting Amaryllis Bulbs to Rebloom

Once the danger of frost has passed, place your potted Amaryllis outdoors in your garden where it can receive at least 6 hours of direct sun. (Make sure the pot it is growing in has a drainage hole.) You can place them on your patio or deck or sink pots into the ground. We do not recommend planting bulbs directly in the garden if you will be lifting them before frost. Amaryllis roots are brittle and prone to breakage with too much handling.

Continue your fertilizer program every 4 weeks during the summer to fortify the bulb for the next round of indoor forcing. Amaryllis are not cold hardy, so bring it inside at the end of summer before danger of frost. Check the plant for any pests and problems and treat accordingly.

At that point, it’s time to get ready to help your Amaryllis rebloom. Stop watering and allow the bulb to completely dry out. Store it in a cool dry dark place and allow foliage to wither before trimming it off. About 5 to 8 weeks before you want the Amaryllis to flower again, re-pot the bulb in fresh potting soil, bring it into a sunny spot, and resume watering as instructed above.

Caring for Hot-Dipped Wax Amaryllis Bulb Varieties

Amaryllis hot-dipped in wax are the ultimate low-maintenance gift—everything they need to grow and bloom is contained in the bulb! The bulb is kept from drying out by the wax (no watering required) and they require no care other than some indirect light and a warm spot to sit (70 to 75°F is ideal).

• Amaryllis bulbs will typically bloom within 4 to 6 weeks of setting them out, but can sometimes take a little longer. Flowers will typically last 3 to 4 weeks.
• Rotate the bulb if it begins to lean toward the sun to keep the flower stalk growing straight.
• If used for table decoration, they’ll be fine there for several hours but should be returned to the indirect sunlight for long-term success. Set on a saucer to protect the table surface from the wax.
• Spent flowers can be snipped off and the spent stalk cut off about an inch above the bulb. Often a second flower stalk will appear as others fade.
• If you wish to continue growing the bulb after it is done blooming, remove the wax coating and the wire stand and pot it up per the Planting Instructions section.