How to Use Amaryllis as Cut Flowers
If you visit a high-end floral shop during the winter months, you’re likely to see lots of amaryllis. Floral designers love using these big-blooming flower bulbs, because the blossoms are bold, elegant and long-lasting.
In the floral trade, demand for amaryllis is increasing. Commercial growers have been quick to jump on the opportunity, and this has stimulated a flurry of new hybridizing. Those of us who love growing amaryllis can now choose from an extraordinary range of exciting flower styles and colors.
Why not jump on this trend and try using some of your amaryllis as cut flowers? Though it can be intimidating to cut those big stems, once you do, you’ll discover so many new ways to enjoy these magnificent winter-blooming bulbs. Read on for some practical tips about growing and using amaryllis as cut flowers.
The amaryllis varieties Evergreen, Magic Green and Sweet Nymph in an arrangement by Alicia Schwede of Flirty Fleurs.
4 Reasons to Grow Amaryllis as Cut Flowers
ONE. Amaryllis flowers last just as long (and sometimes longer) in a vase as they do when still attached to the bulb. This is a big reason they’re so popular as cut flowers. Cut the stems after the buds soften, and you can expect to have flowers for 2 weeks or more.
TWO. When you cut the stems before the flowers open, it helps the bulb conserve energy. This is valuable if you want to save your amaryllis bulbs from one year to the next. Or, if you live in a warm climate and grow amaryllis outdoors.
THREE. Amaryllis have long, elegant stems and enormous flowers. Like peonies, this makes them top-heavy, which can be a problem when the bulbs are grown in pots. Outdoors, amaryllis are vulnerable to wind and other weather damage. Cutting the stems ensures you’ll enjoy perfect, undamaged flowers.
FOUR. Not everyone has a good place to display flowers that are more than 2 feet tall. Cutting the stems of your amaryllis means you can display them in almost any vase you choose. Consider adding greens and other flowers to complement the blooms.
Here, the double variety Nymph is displayed in a simple vase with a few bits of evergreen from the garden.
Types of Amaryllis for Cutting
All amaryllis are good for cutting, so grow the colors and flower styles that appeal to you. Some varieties naturally have shorter (or longer) stems, bigger (or smaller) flowers and earlier (or later) bloom times. The more bulbs you plant, the more options you’ll have for creating arrangements to enjoy in your own home and to share with friends. Just three large bulbs will give you 6 to 9 stems and between 24 and 40 blossoms!
This is an efficient way to grow amaryllis for cut flowers. Planting six bulbs in a window box will give you dozens of stems.
Plan for Different Blooms Times
Most amaryllis bulbs come from either Holland or Israel. In recent years, South Africa and South America have also begun producing bulbs for export. With amaryllis now coming from two hemispheres, growers are able to deliver a continuous supply of cut flowers, almost year-round.
If you want to have amaryllis flowers for holiday bouquets, plant bulbs from the Southern Hemisphere. They arrive eager to bloom, and if planted by early November, they usually flower for the holidays.
Bulbs from the Northern Hemisphere typically bloom between January and March. The sooner you plant them, the quicker they’ll bloom. Note that each variety is on a slightly different schedule. To get a succession of flowers, plant a number of different varieties and don’t plant all the bulbs at the same time. Learn more here: When Will My Amaryllis Bloom?
These plump, soft buds are at the perfect stage for cutting.
When and How to Cut the Stems
For the longest vase life, cut the stems before the flowers open. Wait until the first buds have puffed out and are soft (as shown above).
Use a sharp knife to cut the stem just an inch or so above the bulb. Amaryllis stems are hollow, so take care to support the stem as you are making the cut. Put the flowers into a tall, clean vase of room temperature water and then move the vase to a cool place for a few hours or overnight. Once the flowers have rested, you can recut the stems to whatever length suits your vase or arrangement.
Pollen can stain the petals of an amaryllis. If you’re concerned about this, you may remove the pollen just as you would from a lily. Using a tissue, gently grab the pollen anthers and pull away from the flower head. The pollen will come off easily.
How to Display Amaryllis as Cut Flowers
Amaryllis look fabulous no matter how you display them — combined with greens and other flowers or on their own.
If you plan to leave the stems relatively long, choose a tall vase with a heavy bottom. Clear vases work well for amaryllis because they accentuate the long line of the stems. In fact, clear glass vases work nicely even if you cut the stems short. Stoneware crocks also work well and provide the necessary weight to balance the flowers.
Always start with a squeaky-clean vase. Add floral food to the water, following proper dilution rates. (For an alternative to floral food, add 1 tsp sugar, 2 tsp lemon juice and 1 tsp bleach to a quart of lukewarm water.)
Amaryllis Sweet Nymph
Change the water in the vase twice a week. Always take a few extra moments to wash the vase and remove bacteria that can clog the stems. Then add water and fresh preservative. Re-cutting the stem each time you change the water will maximize vase life.
Over time, the bottom of the amaryllis stem will tend to split and curl. If you don’t like this look, you can wrap floral tape around the bottom of the stem so the tape adheres to itself. Or use a rubber band. Give the stem a fresh cut right below the tape or rubber band.
If you want to keep the stems tall and straight and ensure they don’t break, you can insert a bamboo cane into the hollow stem. Measure and cut the cane to size before you insert it. For something completely different, consider suspending the flowers from above. Hold the flower upside down, fill the stem with water, and use a cotton ball to plug the end.
More Tips for Enjoying Amaryllis as Cut Flowers
As with all cut flowers, amaryllis last longer when you keep the flowers cool and out of the sun. At night, consider moving them into an even cooler area — just make sure there’s no danger they’ll freeze.
When the flowers begin to fade, use scissors to nip off individual blooms and give other blossoms a chance to enjoy their own moment in the spotlight.
Amaryllis bulbs are available for shipping from mid-October through mid-December. Next time you order, add a few extra bulbs and enjoy the fun of growing and arranging your own mid-winter bouquets! You’ll find our complete selection HERE.
For general planting and growing information, you may also be interested in reading All About Amaryllis and 6 Tips for Growing Amaryllis.
Hi! When the buds are the perfect stage for cutting, how long does it take for them to blossom into a fairly full flower? Just trying to calculate for an arrangement I’m going to do!
Thank you so much, great article!
Hi Nancy! Hard to say because it depends on the room temperature. In a warm (70°+) room, the largest of those fat buds (shown in the article) would be open within 2 days. In a cool room or in a floral cooler, it could take several days longer. A sunny window will speed things along!
[…] In the photo above, floral designer Alicia Schwede of FlirtyFleurs.com cut the stems short to create a late winter arrangement with amaryllis that she grew at home. The varieties include Magic Green, Evergreen and Pink Nymph. To learn more about using amaryllis for cut flowers, read this blog post: How to Use Amaryllis as Cut Flowers. […]
Are amaryllis good as floating them in water?
Hi Janie – Amaryllis don’t float very well due to their irregular shape. But the flowers can be displayed in a shallow dish with water covering the stem.
[…] 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. […]
How do Amaryllis do in oasis medium please?
Hi Elaine – I asked floral designer Alicia Schwede. She said if you want to use amaryllis in an arrangement with an Oasis base, you will need to cut the stems to length, fill them with water and plug the end of the stem with a cotton ball. Tape on two picks to the sides of each stem and then insert them into the foam. For an easier approach, she suggested creating a twiggy framework to support the stems or make a chicken wire dome for the vase.
Will smaller buds that have not swelled to size still bloom if you cut when the first buds are at size?
Hi Laura – yes they will! Once you remove that first stem, the bulb will not need to support it any longer. This means it can put all its energy into the second stem. Though the blossoms are fully formed before they emerge as buds, the flowers on the second stem may grow a bit larger because they don’t need to be sharing water and nutrients.
My bulb is now in full bloom. Is it too late to cut and put in vase? (I’d like to extend the life of the bloom, so if not cutting it at this stage is the better option, I will leave it alone.)
Hi Karen – you can cut the stem at any point. The flowers last about the same, whether on the bulb or in a vase. Best way to extend their life is to keep them in a cool location, away from heat and sunlight.
I would like to cut my amaryllis because the stem is top-heavy and bending over. The flowers have been fully open for over a week. If I cut it can I still keep the bulb to die back and re-grow it after a dormancy period?
Hi Jody – Yes! You can cut off the flower stems down low and then recut them to whatever length fits your vase. The bulb will send out leaves as usual and you can grow them on for next year — just as you would would normally.
After i cut a blooms from the bulb, will it bloom again soon?
Hi – Amaryllis usually bloom once each year. Depending on the size of the bulb, you can expect 1, 2 or 3 stems – at the same time or sequentially. Cutting the stems in bud, in bloom or after the flowers fade does not affect the timing or number of other stems. To learn more, read: longfield-gardens.com/article/How-To-Get-An-Amaryllis-Bulb-To-Rebloom
after cutting my stalk, overnight the stalk curled up into 5 rolls!! Now the stalk is really short.
I cut the 2nd stalk taking great care not to split it, and after a couple of hours, it has done the same.
what on earth is going on and how do I remedy this?
Hi Steph – This is perfectly normal. After the stem has been cut, about an inch of it splits and curls. No idea why this happens, but doesn’t affect the longevity of the flowers.
First floweropen on 4th February, today is 9th all flowers are open but first 2 are fading, why?
Individual flowers typically last for a week as long as the air temperatures is cool (60-65°F) and they are not in direct sunlight. Once in bloom, water once or twice per week, keeping the soil lightly moist. As the flowers fade, snip them off with scissors to give the others room to shine.
Do Amaryllis flowers last longer if you cut them than leaving them on the plant?
Thank you.
Hi Gill – I find they last about the same amount of time — maybe a little longer in a vase. I don’t have a scientific reason for this, but attribute it to the fact that the bulbs usually bloom before they can develop a substantial root system. So the flowers probably have easier access to moisture in a vase than they do when on the bulb.
As the amaryllis flowers senesce and dry up, they will drip water – is this just water they are pulling up through the stems that isn’t going into the drying petals? Sometimes it is colored the same as the flower. Thanks –
Hi – I have seen the same thing myself. When you cut off a spent flower or cut off a stem, water really pours out. Clearly the plant’s tissues are well hydrated. Which is amazing as the bulbs have few roots and don’t seem to absorb much water.
thank you so much for all this information – I was afraid about cutting one stalk as it was pushing into another stalk on the same bulb and I worried about them damaging each other. All this information was very helpful and it is wonderful to learn that they are easy to save as cut flowers as by now I have about 20 bulbs of various sizes, which all came from my eight original bulbs years ago. Those old bulbs are having three or four stalks on them now. They are outside in pots during the summer and in November I cut them back, leaves and roots, let them dry for a month or so, then start replanting them one by one so that I may have a continuous display of beauty.