
- In late summer, bring your amaryllis inside and place it in a sunny spot.
- Stop watering and feeding.
- The leaves, flowers, and stems will begin to fade. Once they have yellowed, cut them off and move the plant to a cool, dark place with temperatures between 55-60 degrees.
- The bulb will need at least 8-10 weeks of rest.
- After the rest period, move it to a warm, sunny spot and water thoroughly.
- After 8-10 weeks in a warm and sunny spot, it should begin to bloom again.
- If you want your amaryllis in bloom for Christmas, its rest period should start in early September and moved to a warm, sunny spot in late October.
How to get your Amaryllis to bloom twice a year?
Step 3: Prepare the amaryllis bulb to bloom again
- Pull off the dead foliage and then water the amaryllis. You may need to set the pot in a tub of water to rehydrate dry soil.
- Set it once again in a sunny window and begin regularly watering and fertilizing as green growth emerges.
- In several weeks, you can expect another round of blooms!
Does Amaryllis need fertilizer?
The amaryllis needs a liquid nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer every two weeks or a slow-release formulation administered monthly or bimonthly. How do you get an amaryllis to bloom?
Can Amaryllis grow without water?
You must water your amaryllis plant when ever you see the soil is dry. That’s like, once in a week. However, it depends on the temperature and the location of the plant in your home. That’s right! Watering your houseplants as per their requirements can be a tricky job.
How to plant, grow, and care for Amaryllis outdoors?
Amaryllis Care
- As a New Indoor Plant for Seasonal Blooms. Partially fill a 5- to 7-inch pot with a good-quality, well-draining potting mix, then plant the amaryllis bulb so the top one-third ...
- Forcing an Existing Plant Into Holiday Bloom. ...
- Allowing Potted Plants to Re-bloom Naturally. ...
- As a Garden Plant. ...
- Light. ...
- Soil. ...
- Water. ...
- Temperature and Humidity. ...
- Fertilizer. ...

Can amaryllis go outside in the summer?
As long as there's no risk of further frost, you can put your amaryllis outside for the spring and summer months. Place it in a sheltered spot where the sunlight isn't too strong and water more sparsely without letting the soil dry out completely.
How do I keep my amaryllis bulb for next year?
Store your bulb in a cool, dry, dark place like an unheated but attached garage, your basement, or the crisper of a refrigerator where the temperature ranges between 50 and 55 Fahrenheit for eight to 12 weeks. Do not store amaryllis bulbs in a fridge that has apples inside because this will sterilize the bulbs.
What do you do with amaryllis when finished flowering?
Cut the old flowers from the stem after flowering, and when the stem starts to sag, cut it back to the top of the bulb. Leaf Growth and Development. Continue to water and fertilize as normal all summer, or for at least 5-6 months, allowing the leaves to fully develop and grow.
When should I put amaryllis in the dark?
The temperature should be around 50-60 degrees. Let the leaves become brown and dry before cutting them off. Leave the potted bulb in the dark for 8 to 12 weeks.
Can you leave bulbs in pots?
You can grow virtually any bulb in containers, and you can mix different types of bulbs together, too. In fact, it's a lot like growing bulbs in the ground. Start with a container with drainage holes so that excess water can escape, and plant your bulbs in the fall.
Should you cut the leaves off amaryllis?
You need to keep the leaves on the plant. Through photosynthesis, the leaves will work to recharge the bulb. The plant needs the energy stored in the bulb to produce a new flower next year. If you cut off the leaves, you're weakening your plant.
Can you keep an amaryllis from year to year?
Answer: Some individuals discard their amaryllis after it is done blooming. However, it's possible to save the amaryllis and force it to flower again next year.
How do you reuse amaryllis bulbs?
After your amaryllis has rested for 2 to 5 months, you can start again. There's no rush, so if you have several bulbs you may want to start them at different times. Repot the bulb using fresh growing mix. Water once and move the pot into a bright, 60-65°F room.
Does amaryllis come back every year?
Although amaryllis are typically only sold around the holidays, they can be grown successfully year-round and bloom again as long as they receive proper care.
How do I overwinter my amaryllis?
Plant the bulb with the base of the bulb 8-inches deep (so the top is about 3-inches deep). Protect over-winter with 2- to 3-inches of mulch. Amaryllis fare best in climates with approximately 9 months of temperatures of 70 F and up and 3 months of less than 60 F. Expect one bloom cycle per year, in late spring.
Timing and watering are key to make the gorgeous flowers come back
Nadia Hassani is a gardening expert with nearly 20 years of experience in landscaping, garden design, and vegetable and fruit gardening. She became a Penn State Master Gardener in 2006 and is a regular contributor to Penn State Master Gardener publications.
The Life Cycle of Amaryllis
Amaryllis, a plant native to Central and South America, does not undergo true dormancy. Instead, the bulbs go through a rest period after flowering which allows them to recover and bloom again.
Caring for Amaryllis After the Bloom
Amaryllis care after the bloom falls into three stages: during the leaf growth until late summer, the rest period in the fall, and regrowth and rebloom in the late fall/early to mid-winter. The care for your amaryllis also depends on whether you are timing the bloom, for example for a holiday, or let it rebloom naturally.
How to keep amaryllis alive?
Instead of tossing an amaryllis after the holidays, keep it alive throughout spring and summer. These flowers are natives of the tropics, so they naturally bloom in the spring’s warmer temperatures. Once the flowers are spent, cut them off and cut back the stalks. Keep the bulb planted in its container, and continue to give it regular water and full sun. After the last frost, move an amaryllis outdoors. The bulbs can stay in containers or be transplanted into the ground. In both cases, give them full sun to part shade and regular water. Fertilize them with time-release granules. If temperatures unexpectedly drop (as they usually do during springtime in the South), bring containers indoors until it warms back up.
How to get amaryllis to bloom again?
Fertilize them with time-release granules. If temperatures unexpectedly drop (as they usually do during springtime in the South), bring containers indoors until it warms back up. To encourage amaryllis bulbs to bloom again next spring, allow them to go dormant in late summer to early fall for about 8 to 10 weeks.
Do amaryllis bulbs need water?
Over a few weeks, the bulbs will sprout Kelly green stalks and showy blooms. Wax-dipped bulbs are an ingenious idea—no watering or potting required for them to grow.
Do you throw out potted poinsettias in January?
Our potted poinsettias are probably way past their prime, but chances are, our amaryllises are still going strong. Don’t throw out these flowers just because it's January. Instead, keep a piece of the holiday spirit alive, and move amaryllises outside once the weather warms up.
Do amaryllis bulbs bloom in spring?
Bare bulbs, however, have a much longer lifespan. Instead of tossing an amaryllis after the holidays, keep it alive throughout spring and summer. These flowers are natives of the tropics, so they naturally bloom in the spring’s warmer temperatures. Once the flowers are spent, cut them off and cut back the stalks.
Can amaryllis be thrown out in January?
Don’t throw out these flowers just because it's January. Instead, keep a piece of the holiday spirit alive, and move amaryllises outside once the weather warms up. Amaryllises are traditional blooms to give and grow around Christmastime.
Do amaryllis bulbs grow in wrapping paper?
Amaryllises are traditional blooms to give and grow around Christmastime. Like paper whites, the real wow factor of these flowers is watching the bulbs blossom right before your eyes. Amaryllis bulbs in pretty wrapping paper make great gifts for holiday hosts. Over a few weeks, the bulbs will sprout Kelly green stalks and showy blooms. Wax-dipped bulbs are an ingenious idea—no watering or potting required for them to grow. The downside? These bulbs are spent after one growing season and won’t rebloom. Bare bulbs, however, have a much longer lifespan.
When do amaryllis bulbs bloom?
Amaryllis are beautiful bulbs that bloom in early winter. The amaryllis bulbs produce vibrant flowers and are a popular choice for indoor decoration.
How Many Years Will an Amaryllis Bulb Bloom?
Amaryllis bulbs are quite resilient and can bloom for an indefinite amount of time if proper care is given to them. They can easily survive up to 10-25 years.
How long does it take for blubs to bloom?
After this period of dormancy, the blubs are replanted in fresh potting soil. The bulbs bloom 8 weeks after planting them.
Why is the amaryllis called the naked lady?
Due to this flowering pattern, the Amaryllis is also commonly known as “naked lady”. Most people dispose of these bulbs when this happens.
Can you prepare bulbs for next time?
They might be new for some gardeners but once you get the expertise in handling the bulbs, you won’t have any problem preparing them for next time anymore.
When to return amaryllis to sunny window?
Return Your Amaryllis to Your Window. After the 4-6 week rest period for your amaryllis, it is time to return your amaryllis to your sunny window. At this time, it is also important to replenish the nutrients in the soil.
What is the common name for an amaryllis?
Planting Your Amaryllis. Quick side note…Amaryllis is just the common name for this plant. Not to be confused with the “belladonna” lily which is Amaryllis belladonna. What most people know as Amaryllis are actually in the Hippeastrum genus. Common names can be so confusing!
How to plant a bulb in the ground?
A very important step in planting the bulb is to make sure you don’t bury the whole bulb under the soil. Keep the top 1/3 to 1/2 (at the most) above the surface of the soil. Lastly, be sure to gently firm the soil down with your hands.
Where were waxed amaryllis bulbs invented?
Lastly, I wanted to address the trend of waxed Amaryllis bulbs. Waxed Amaryllis were developed in Europe and have now become very widespread. The bulbs are encased in wax to conserve moisture.
How to keep a sage bulb from turning yellow?
The foliage will start to yellow and wilt. When all the foliage is yellowed or dried up, take a sharp, sterilized knife or scissors and cut all the leaves off down to the neck of the bulb.
Do amaryllis plants grow at the same time as the flower stalks?
This will be the growing phase for your plant. Sometimes amaryllis will grow leaves at the same time as the flower stalks, and sometimes they will appear a bit later. After all, plants are all individuals like people! Keep your amaryllis in the SUNNIEST window that you have.
