The amaryllis is one of our most beautiful holiday plants. If you are new to growing amaryllis the easiest way to get started is to purchase one of the amaryllis kits for sale now in our garden centers and grocery stores.
In the kit you will find a container, a large amaryllis bulb and a large dry round of soil. Follow directions by carefully soaking the tablet of soil in a large container of warm water. Fill the container about halfway with the damp soil. Place the bulb in the soil with the pointy side up and the root side down. Carefully spread the roots out as you add soil, leaving the top third of the bulb exposed.
Watch for a sliver of green to show above the point of the bulb and then water carefully. These pots in the kits have no drainage so water only when the top 2 inches of soil feels dry. Once the amaryllis blooms it can become top heavy. This is a good time to place a plant stake next to the bulb to give it support once it starts blooming.
Patience. Every bulb is different, but it should bloom in 4 to 8 weeks. Another thing to consider when planting an amaryllis is that they are toxic to pets. A pot of cat grass from the pet store might help the situation.
After the amaryllis flowers fade, cut the flower stalk back to the base but allow the foliage to continue growing. Place in a sunny window, water and fertilize as usual. This allows the plant to replenish the energy in the bulb.
Put the plant outside for the summer after the last frost of spring and bring the plant back inside before the first frost of autumn. Remove the foliage after it dries, do not water and place the plant in a dark closet for 8 to 12 weeks. After this waiting period, bring the amaryllis to a sunny window and water carefully. The plant should bloom in six to eight weeks.
I love my amaryllis and over the season I buy two or three kits. By staggering the planting, I can keep flowers blooming for several weeks. Bulbs can also be purchased from garden centers and gardening catalogues. Plant these bulbs in containers with proper drainage and enjoy an indoor amaryllis garden for the next holiday season.
(Rebecca Ryan is a lifelong resident of and gardener in the Bradford area. She retired from teaching at Bradford Area School District.)
