Planting Amaryllis Bulbs

Few bulbs are easier to grow than amaryllis and few bloom with greater exuberance and beauty.

Planting amaryllis bulbs.

Late december until the end of june. A support stake is handy for keeping the blooms upright but little else is required. If the roots sit in water for too long they will get waterlogged and may begin to rot. You should plant the bulb so the stringy roots are in the soil.

October until the end of april. Just plant the bulb in good potting soil water regularly and provide bright indirect light. Avoid damaging the roots when you plant your amaryllis. All parts of amaryllis are toxic to cats so it s best to grow them in areas they can t reach.

There are many amaryllis varieties to choose from from dwarf types reaching just 20cm to towering 75cm tall specimens all are grown in the same way. Soak each bulb in lukewarm water for a half hour before planting. Most varieties will begin blooming six to eight weeks after planting. Once you have the ideal place in mind for planting determine the soil s ph which will help you in determining if your soil is sand silt clay or loam.

Or cluster several bulbs close together in a larger container you want a tight fit. If you are planting your amaryllis outside be careful to avoid planting in a clay based soil as this drains more slowly than sand based soil. Renowned for their tall stems and big bold flowers some think of amaryllis as festive flowers but you can enjoy them any time from christmas through to the spring. If you re looking for a winter blooming houseplant to add a bright splash of tropical colour to your home amaryllis is an excellent choice.

The area in which you plant amaryllis bulbs must drain very well. In general it takes five to eight weeks for amaryllis to bloom but this timing depends on many factors including the type of amaryllis air temperature and how long the bulb has been dormant among others. How to grow amaryllis bulbs. Space plants 12 15 inches 30 38 cm apart.

Start with a pot a little larger than the width of your bulb. Choose a site with full sun at least 6 8 hours of direct sun daily and well drained soil. Amaryllis one of a kind of all flowering bulbs amaryllis ar. Always store un planted bulbs in a cool place between 40 50 deg.

Planting amaryllis outdoors is much the same as in containers neck deep keeping the top 1 3 of the bulb sticking up above soil level. Pot up amaryllis bulbs from october to february and the huge trumpet blooms will put on a magnificent show around eight weeks after planting. Some can take as long as ten weeks. Amaryllis bulbs can be planted directly in the ground in areas where temperatures do not go below 10 f zones 8 10 or in zone 7 for cold tolerant species that we sell for spring planting.

Flowering time is 7 10 weeks.