Amaryllis is a plant that naturally grows in the tropical areas of Africa and South America. You will not be Tromp through the jungle to acquire bulbs for the occasion. Just look for them now in department stores and garden centers. Small shops usually start to stock bulbs in the fall. Pick them up and get right to plant them because they are 6-7 weeks to push their beautiful flowers.
The large flowers, 6 "8" wide reach, sits atop a long leafless stem. The bloom lasts all holiday and may even flower again in the coming years. They come in a variety of colors including white, pink, a robust red and a combination thereof. You can plant an amaryllis in a pot, but they will have a much bigger splash as a factory a few pots of amaryllis, grouping them on a table or stand.
Amaryllis is one of the better bulbs to force into bloom. The bulbs come in the stores "pre-cooled," which means they are the cold period needed to receive stem cell growth to initiate. Most of these lamps are in their ready to pot plants. If not, simply follow these steps:
1. Place the bulb in a flowerpot (with good drainage), which is eighteen times larger than the bulb. Amaryllis like to be pot bound, so do not worry if it looks busy. Pick a potting soil on and around the sides of the ball to within a few inches from the neck of the bulb.
2. Water the bulb in the first place, let it dry out a bit. Water sparingly until you see shoots appear. Because the buds and leaves appear, increase your watering. After it begins to bloom, keep it relatively moist medium.
3. Place the pot (s) in direct sunlight in a warm room, waiting to bloom.
Like the proverbial pot of tea, if you look, it will never boil, or bloom, in this case. In the coming weeks your amaryllis sending long pointed leaves, but then you wonder if it will ever bloom! It will, just be patient and keep watering as suggested above. When it comes thrive will do so with a bang, producing a big, beautiful blooms (or two or three), hopefully just in time for the holidays.
The fun of amaryllis, you can repeat flowering to get them the next years. Unlike poinsettias, which frankly, a kind of pain to the next year to be effective, amaryllis are fairly simple to re-bloom the following year. After you have enjoyed your flowers and they started to fade, usually shortly after New Years, follow these steps to get it to bloom again the following year:
1. When the leaves begin to yellow and drop, clip off the flower, flower and steal the long leaves, leaving about two inches of foliage above the neck of the bulb.
2. Water and fertilize during the summer. The leaves grow, which in turn feeds the lamp. This can be done indoors or outdoors. If planting outside, you behind the lamp in the pot and to discourage insects and critters. However, do not place them in the spring before the last frost date and to get inside before the first frost in autumn.
3. In early fall the leaves begin to yellow. At this time, cut the leaves of the bulb, cleaning of the lamp and place it in the crisper of your refrigerator or a cool cellar. The lamp has an extensive root system at this time. Marinate in refrigerator for at least six weeks. Do not water during this period.
4. When finished, replant the lamp according to the instructions above and you have another show to get for your guests.
After further detailed above methods to get them to bloom again, I should add that a few years they can not re-bloom. As long as the ball is still strong, not to give up on. You may need to repeat steps 1-3. If the lamp is mushy and you see the tiny fungus gnats hovering around, it's time to throw in the compost heap.
Amaryllis was originally discovered in South Africa and South America. The correct name is genus Hippeastrum. They can grow for 75 years in the wild. The type we buy in stores are hybrids. Amaryllis' have been around since ancient times. Reference to amaryllis can be found in the writings of ancient Greece on the side as heroic figures such as Apollo and Hercules.
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