Monday, December 14, 2015

Growing and Caring for Your Amaryllis


Amaryllis are those beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers you see around Christmas.  They can be found at your local grocery store or florist.  Red is the most popular color, but they can be pink, white, salmon, apricot, or rose.



When growing an amarylllis, select the largest bulb possible, because the amount of stalks and blooms relates directly to the bulb size.  Make sure your container is deep enough for good root development, and make sure it has good drainage.  The container doesn't have to be that big.  The diameter should be one inch larger than the bulb. Position the bulb so that at least one third of it is above the soil.  Press the soil around the bulb so that it is firm.  Then put in a warm sunny spot.  Do not fertilize until it begins to grow.


When buds appear, move the plant out of direct sunlight..  This will help prolong the blooms.  After the flowers fade, cut them off to prevent seed formation.  Do not remove the stalk until it has turned yellow.  The amaryllis needs a lot of sunlight after blooming, so be sure to put it in the brightest possible location inside.  Water when the top two inches of the soil seems dry.  Continue to fertilize.  When the danger of frost has passed, you can take your amaryllis outside, but start by placing it in the shade or indirect light.  Gradually, you can move it to an area where it can receive six hours of full sun each day.  Just be sure to bring it back inside before the danger of the first frost.




Before I go, I'd like to let you know that my book, Ten Zany Birds, is party of SCBWI's inaugural book launch party. You can like the page, comment in the guest book, and try to win one of two copies of the book (US residents only). Visit the link for details.

10 comments:

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    1. Maybe now that you know how to care for it, you'll have a better chance of it surviving.

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  2. Hi Sherry - amaryllis give much for one bulb. They get sold as a set here .. bulb, soil and pot - and when I've had one - they've done really well ...

    Thanks for the reminder .. cheers Hilary

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    1. Right now, I see them being sold in our grocery stores. They really are pretty - especially when they're in full bloom.

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  3. My Dad said his is gorgeous this year. And I love Ten Zany Birds - it is wrapped now for a special kid.

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    1. Thanks again for purchasing a copy of Ten Zany Birds. I hope the recipient also enjoys it!

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  4. My wife bought one in a box, about an eight inch cube. When opened it was like a Jack-in-the-Box and now, after one week its a least twice the size!

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  5. This is a good tip for me. I've been thinking about planting a flower garden when it gets warm. I've never done it before.

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    1. Flower gardens are so pretty. They're just a lot of work with all of the weeding and watering.

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