Amaryllis, cultivate this beautiful winter flower!

The amaryllis flowers are unique, creating a beautiful and colorful balcony or interior in the heart of winter, until the beginning of spring. Its cultivation is particularly easy as it is a bulb, like the narcissus, with some important differences in terms of flowering and planting season.

Amaryllis planting

Amaryllis takes about 6 to 8 weeks from the time it is planted until it blooms. This means that you can determine the planting periods depending on the period you would like to see your plants bloom! If you plant the bulbs in late September, they will probably be in full bloom during Christmas, giving color and vibrancy to your home and contributing to the festive decoration! Respectively you can have flowers during Spring, even Easter with the rule of 8 weeks! In fact, in spring and autumn, you can keep your plants in the garden as the temperatures allow.

The planting method is simple but demanding: soak the bulb for a few hours to activate the root and accelerate growth. Fill a pot relatively small for each bulb with compost and put the bulb with the root down. Cover the bulb with the rest of the compost and water well. Make sure the bulb is not completely covered but protrudes slightly! Leave the pot for a week or two in a dark and warm place until it sprouts! From the moment it sprouts, wait 6 to a maximum of 12 weeks to see the flower!

Important tips:

– Amaryllis does not want direct contact with sunlight but wants light
– As with most plants, good drainage is needed to prevent disease.
– When it starts to grow taller it needs support so that the bulb does not hang, break or be exposed
– To keep it blooming, we remove the old flowers
– Make sure the soil is rich and the pot has drainage holes!

How will your amaryllis bloom again!

The first time you plant your amaryllis, it’s easy! The hardships come after, as many complain that it did not bloom again. Amaryllis wants extra care but it’s worth it. So after flowering, we cut the flower stem and let the leaves dry as they offer valuable food to the bulbs. Once the leaves are dry, we remove the bulbs, clean them and store them in a shady and dry environment so that they can rest until the next season!

If left in the soil, the bulbs continue to be active so they do not get enough rest until the next bloom, and often do not succeed, while other times they are placed in pots that are not adequately drained and by next season the bulbs have already rotted.

If you still want to see your plants bloom again in summer, choose a shady part of your yard! Clean the plant as above but put it back in a larger pot with fresh and rich soil, water it and let the soil dry completely. Towards the end of Spring, start watering to activate the plant and stop watering in August so that the plant withers on its own and the bulb rests again until the next planting! In October, start the process again for indoor space!

Good drainage is required to prevent diseases! If amaryllis gets sick, the most likely scenario is to destroy the bulb and buy a new one!

There are many varieties with different flowers, many colors, many shapes and heights that the plant can reach! Make combinations that will beautify your space according to your personal taste! Make sure the bulbs you buy are healthy and tight without signs of disease!

Some varieties that stand out are Royal Velvet, Tosca, Fairytale, Green Goddess, Emerald, Apple Blossom and Black Pearl.

As with many bulbs, amaryllis is toxic to your pets, so make sure they are planted in places where your pets do not have direct access!