How to Have Amaryllis Blooming All Winter Long
If you are a flower lover, the months of December, January and February can be pretty bleak. Store-bought bouquets can help a little, but they always look a bit sad. It’s not just flowers that we crave. It’s their freshness and energy.
There’s no need to live through a flowerless winter. Amaryllis make it easy to fill your home with flowers and let you enjoy the pleasure of nurturing a plant from bulb to bloom.
Amaryllis (more accurately named Hippeastrum) are grapefruit-sized flower bulbs that are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Mexico, the Caribbean and South America. In frost-free areas (zones 8-11) they may be grown outdoors and will flower during the summer months. But the vast majority of amaryllis bulbs are sold in late fall to be grown indoors. Their natural bloom time is between December and March.
With a little planning, you can enjoy amaryllis all winter long. To get months of flowers you can start with as few as five amaryllis bulbs. Here’s how to do it.
Purchase Amaryllis Bulbs with Different Origins
Amaryllis have been produced commercially for more than 100 years and are currently grown in Holland, South Africa, Israel, Brazil, Peru and Japan. Bulbs that are produced in the southern hemisphere (South Africa, Brazil and Peru) bloom in December, while bulbs from the northern hemisphere (Holland, Japan, Israel and the U.S) typically bloom from late January into March. Purchasing bulbs from both of these growing regions, will let you enjoy the longest possible bloom time.
If you purchase amaryllis bulbs from a box store, the bulb origin probably won’t be apparent. For planning purposes (and to get the widest selection of top quality bulbs!) purchase your bulbs directly from a bulb purveyor like Longfield Gardens.
Choose 4 or More Different Amaryllis Varieties
Genetics have a role in determining when plants bloom. Take peonies, for example. The variety Bowl of Beauty blooms early in the peony season, while Sarah Bernhardt typically blooms two weeks later.
Amaryllis are similar. Some varieties come into bloom more quickly than others. If you purchase bulbs based on when they bloom, you can have flowers opening over a period of months rather than weeks. To learn which varieties bloom when, read When Will Your Amaryllis Bloom.
Plant One or More Amaryllis Bulbs Each Month
Begin the amaryllis season with early-blooming bulbs from the southern hemisphere. They usually take about 4 weeks to flower, so for holiday blooms, the time to plant these bulbs is early November.
Amaryllis bulbs that are produced in the northern hemisphere begin blooming in January. Plant the earliest-blooming varieties first and end with the latest. Plan to plant three batches of bulbs about 3 weeks apart, starting in mid-December.
Use Heat and Light to Control Growth Rate
Before you plant the bulbs, keep them in a dark, cool (45°F) place with good air circulation (don’t store them in a plastic bag). Once the bulbs are potted, it’s ideal to have two different growing zones, both with good, indirect light. This will let you adjust the bloom time by slowing growth (55 to 60°F) or giving it a nudge (65 to 70°).
Once your amaryllis are flowering, you can extend the bloom time by keeping the blossoms cool. Make sure they are never in direct sunlight, and if possible, move the pot into a cooler room overnight. Another way to enjoy amaryllis is as cut flowers. They last just as long in a vase as when still attached to the bulb. To learn more, read How to Use Amaryllis as Cut Flowers.
Hi folks!! Re: Zone 9
If we get these amaryllis to bloom in this Zone what do we do to get them to redo themselves – plant outside right away after blooming for the Holidays???
Thanks,
Gary
Hi Gary – If there’s no danger of frost, you can cut off the flowers after they finish blooming and replant the bulb outdoors. Keep the top of the bulb above soil level. Avoid soggy soil — the bulbs need good drainage. Filtered light is ideal. Encourage the bulbs to produce as much foliage as they can – fertilize lightly as you would with other plants. I don’t have personal experience growing amaryllis outdoors, but I believe you can expect the bulbs to start going dormant in the fall. Once the foliage is completely yellow, you can pull it away from the bulb. Let the bulb rest (dormancy is part of its flowering cycle). During this time, the soil should stay relatively dry. New growth will appear in the winter or spring. Good luck!
Hi, we got a amaryllis bulb the first of December 2018 as a gift. It was in a pot and still has not grown. Is was watered and in sunlight.
What else can I do or is it as dud?
Hi there – Amaryllis are very reliable bloomers, but they have their own sense of timing. Sometimes the bulbs will not sprout until March. A healthy bulb should be heavy and firm like a raw potato — not soft or dried out. If your bulb is still firm, just wait — it should eventually sprout. Meanwhile, don’t overwater it. The soil should be barely moist. If your amaryllis bulb does not sprout by mid-March, and was purchased from Longfield Gardens, please get in touch with us: info@lfgardens.com
Where are the Southern Hemisphere Amarilis bulbs available?
These bulbs are available on our website, HERE. All varieties marked “Blooms for Christmas” were grown in South America. You can reserve your amaryllis bulbs now — we begin shipping in mid-October and usually continue shipping amaryllis bulbs through December.
[…] Amaryllis bulbs are available from October through December. Order yours now so you can enjoy a flower-filled winter. To learn about staggering bloom times to extend the show, read: When Will Your Amaryllis Bloom and How to Have Amaryllis Blooming All Winter Long. […]
I have an Amaryllis bulb, that was a gift, last Christmas. It was wax-dipped. It was beautiful. After the blooms died, I planted the bulb in a pot. It has grown green stalks 12-36 inches tall.. And has been growing on my screen porch all summer.. My question is: Do I leave this outside, plant in ground or bring inside for the winter and hope it blooms like last Christmas? It’s pretty now but is leaning over. Please help me, I don’t want to loose it.
10/20/2019
Thank you
Betty Shelnutt
Hi Betty – You should bring the potted bulb indoors before frost and stop watering. Let the foliage die back so the bulb has a rest. To learn more about getting amaryllis bulbs to re-bloom, you can read this article on our website: How to Get an Amaryllis Bulb to ReBloom. Be aware that in the second year, the flowers may not be as large or you may not get as many. There is also the possibility that the bulb will not bloom. For guaranteed flowers, it’s best to purchase fresh bulbs each year.
I have 4 small bulbs attached to the large bulb after it flowered. what can I do with them-replant??
Hi Elaine – Do you usually save your amaryllis bulbs from one year to the next? If you do, you could treat those small bulbs in the same way. But don’t expect them to bloom for a number of years. To produce a nice display of flowers, the bulbs would need to bulk up in size and be as large as the mother bulb.
I found a neglected amaryllis bulb in January. I potted it and now It has beautiful healthy stems but has not bloomed. It is now May what should i do ?
Hi Norma – I’m assuming you mean the bulb has produced healthy foliage, not stems? Once there’s no chance of frost, you can put your amaryllis outdoors for the summer. Leave the bulb right in the pot. Fertilize and water as you would a houseplant. To make sure the bulb doesn’t rot, don’t let the soil get soggy. In early fall, bring the bulb indoors, stop watering and let the foliage die back. Once the bulb has rested for a couple months, you can repot and begin again. Hopefully it will bloom next year. More information is available here: How to Get an Amaryllis to Rebloom.