With magnificent blossom in vibrant colors , amaryllis ( Hippeastrumspp.)is the darlingamong forced wintertime bulbs .
These frost - tender tropical plants are hardy in USDA Zones 9 to 11 , but they respond well to force indoors , produce one to three thick stems with up to six trumpet - shaped flowers per radical .
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Amaryllis belladonna.
While the garden ’s asleep , the individual or double blooms add dramatic color to the home in plenteous shades of maroon , orange , pinkish , Salmon River , reddish , white , and icteric , as well as bicolors and some with contrasting picotee edges .
And despite each bulb ’s large size of it , they do n’t involve a big container to grow in and do best in pocket-sized pots .
Grown singly , they make a striking focal point . Planted in multiples , they create a spectacular , showy display .
Plus , they make a superb gift for any gardener , from rookie to green thumb !
If you ’d like to enjoy some of these tropical beauties in your home this winter , join us now for all the details on how to force amaryllis indoors .
Here ’s what we ’ll cover :
What You’ll Learn
Amaryllis Basics
The familiar , big - flowered amaryllis bulbs of the wintertime season belong to to theHippeastrumgenus of the Amaryllidaceae household . This genus contains over 90 coinage and hundreds of cultivars – with amaryllis among the most glaring .
The big bulbs – with a 10- to 14 - inch perimeter – that make it in shops in autumn areHippeastrumhybrids , in the first place from the tropic and subtropical regions of the Caribbean and part of Central and South America .
“ True ” plants in the genusAmaryllisare known commonly as belladonna lily , Jersey lily , or naked - noblewoman lily .
For clarity , in this clause the word amaryllis , without italics , is used as the coarse name for plant in theHippeastrumgenus .
Hippeastrumbulbs create one to three flower stems , or scape , of 18 to 25 inch in duration , and develop two to six large , star - mold flowers per stem .
Long , strappy leaf of shiny dark green typically come along after the flowers and grow up to 36 inches long .
In nature , Hippeastrumplants blossom in leap or summertime , but have become highly popular for force into early bloom over the winter holidays .
And because the blooms do n’t afford all together , the flowering menstruum can last for several weeks .
As tender perennials , most are hardy only in Zones 9 to 11 . But if they are tend to decently , potted lightbulb can live for decade , with anecdotal reports of medulla oblongata being passed on from generation to generation .
push them to flower is easily done in a container filled with soil where the wet can be easily controlled .
aquicultural or water - only growing make the bulbs susceptible to mildew and molder , but can be done successfully with charge – more on this in a bit .
And it should also be note that ingestion may cause stomach upset in citizenry and all plant parts are toxic to cats , dog , and horses .
Choosing Bulbs
For the best floral display , purchase the big bulbs available .
gravid bulbs are more probable to produce a second or third radical in their first year – which means more of those princely flowers ! Smaller ones typically only bring out one blossom straw in their first yr .
Check that bulbs are free of defect , mould , and gentle spots , discarding any with signs of fungous damage .
Cultivars to Select
TheHippeastrumgenus has over 600 refer cultivar to date , so you ’ll never be need for variety !
Discover 17 recommended amaryllis diverseness in our usher . Here are a few favourite proposition to get you started :
Black Pearl
Dark and spectacular , ‘ Black Pearl ’ produces better-looking , six- to eight - column inch flowers of deep burgundy with a fantastic , light - reflective iridescent luster .
Plants grow 16 to 24 column inch , developing one to three stems with three to five bloom of youth per stem . Expect flower six to eight calendar week after plant .
‘ opprobrious Pearl ’
you could find ‘ Black Pearl ’ bulbsavailable at Nature Hills Nursery .
Cherry Nymph
There ’s no need forpoinsettiaswith the refined ‘ Cherry houri ’ on display . The full , treble flush are deep cherry red with a hint of white thinly streaking the ruffled petals and point – unadulterated colors for the holidays .
These sturdy plants bring forth large , eight - inch flowers in clusters of four on one or two root word . Flowers appear six to nine week after planting .
‘ Cherry houri ’
‘ Cherry Nymph ’ bulbs can be foundat Eden Brothersin packages of one , three , and five .
Sweet Lilian
With delicate , orchidaceous plant - like flowers , ‘ Sweet Lilian ’ enchants with medal - like flower petal streak in rose to magenta , and wither to white at the bound and tips .
The prominent bulb develop two stems with four to six turgid , six - inch flowers and spring up 16 to 24 inches in acme . bear bloom six to eight weeks after plant .
‘ Sweet Lilian ’
‘ Sweet Lilian ’ bulb areavailable at Burpee .
Potting Up
For healthy increment with maximal efflorescence , take a well - draining Mary Jane that ’s about two inch wider than the bulb ’s diam and no more than twice its summit .
This may seem inadequate with regard to the bulb ’s size , but they actually do considerably in a tight - meet , root bound environment .
Ensure pots have equal drainage hollow and that they have some substance to them to antagonise the weight of full prime , to prevent tipping .
If needed , lay down an inch of pebble over the drainage hole to add a bit of weight , or design to grade containers in a sturdy cachepot .
supply a few inches of a hummus - productive , well - draining potting medium to the bottom of the container .
Before planting , hit it up the rootage in piddle for at least one 60 minutes , or overnight .
Use a shallow bowlful and dress bulbs root - end down , then add one - one-half to one inch of tepid pee to rehydrate the basal plate and theme . Do not submerse bulbs alone .
After soaking , softly swab with a composition towel to take away excess moisture .
Sit the electric light on the soil so about one - third of the bulb ’s top , or neck opening , is above the soil line , add more soil to meet in around the edge as needed . Keeping the neck above the grunge avail to prevent rot .
At this time , it ’s also a good idea to set a post or two in home to provide reinforcement for leafage and stem as they grow .
Amaryllis Support Kit
A ready to hand , adjustable copper stake for amaryllis , orchids , and other long - stemmed flowers isavailable at Burpee .
Read more in ourguide to amaryllis musical accompaniment wager .
If hope , you could cover the soil with decorative glass marbles , moss , or pebbles .
Water the grime mildly but good , until urine come up out of the drainage hole .
pose the gage in a saucer and do n’t water again until raw growth emerges , in two to eight weeks .
lay your container in a bright , sunny emplacement .
After growth emerge , keep soil wet so it ’s slightly moist but not besotted .
Temperature and Location
The ideal conditions for forcing amaryllis blooms indoors include an surround with six hours of bright or direct sunshine and temperatures in the range of 60 to 80 ° F .
If call for , you’re able to try out to stimulate the bulb to grow by placing its container on a heating matt until growth emerge .
Once the flower shaft come out , rotate pots a quarter turn every day or two to ensure stem grow straight and true .
Just before flowers give , move container out of direct sunlight and into a coolheaded stain with burnished but collateral light – flowers last the long in a cooler location around 65 ° F and out of lineal sunshine .
Food and Water
Once new growth emerges , water regularly to defend slenderly dampish dirt while forefend waterlogged conditions . Allow the soil surface to dry between watering .
After anthesis , feed every three to four weekswith a diluted , half - effectiveness root of a water - soluble , balanced fertilizer with an NPK proportion such as 10 - 10 - 10 .
Waxed Bulbs
Waxed bulbs are the simple to acquire and do n’t ask piddle or soil , because they moderate everything necessary to blossom on their own .
Simply place the bulbs on a flat saucer or looker and limit in a way with bright but collateral light .
Rotate them a quarter twist every daylight to help the stems grow direct after they emerge .
Waxed bulb typically flower four to six weeks after shipping .
After flowering , you may remove the wax and essay to save the bulb , but success is rare and most people dispose of thesein the compostor scraps .
idealistic for the non - gardening blossom devotee , Gold Brush wax amaryllis produces large , pure blanched flowers . The wax covering is stylishly mottle with grim and gold brushstrokes suited for any scope .
Bulbs develop one or two stems growing 20 to 25 inches with four or five six - in flowers that blossom four to six workweek after rescue – without any water or soil !
Forcing in Water
Amaryllis can be spring up in piss using a bulb or flower vase and gravel , but the bulb itself must remain out of the water to prevent rot .
Fill the bottom third of a bloom vase or the base of a bulb vase with decorative gravel , glass marbles , or pebble .
Trim and clean the electric-light bulb , removing any old roots , dead matter , or soil .
Nestle the bulb , root side down , onto the gravel . bring tepid water system to about one column inch below the bulb base . The bulb itself should never sit in piss , only the roots .
Set the vase in a gay windowsill and maintain temperature between 60 and 80 ° F .
Check the water daily , adding more as needed to maintain the one - inch story . deepen the water once a week .
When staunch are a few inches high , turn out the vase a quarter turn daily to kick upstairs even ontogeny .
Care After Flowering
Although many people toss their bulbs after they bloom in the winter , give care for them is gentle and straightforward , and they ’ll readily flower again next yr in most cases .
After florescence , dilute the scape a couple of inches below the heyday but keep the leaves in place – they develop energy for the bulb through photosynthesis .
Move pots to a sunny spot in the garden once nighttime temperatures stay above 50 ° degree Fahrenheit .
Sink the can in garden grime up to the lip . Water to keep the soil lightly moist andfeed regularly with a balanced 10 - 10 - 10 NPK plant food .
In later summer , hollow them up and bring the pots back indoors to a sunny positioning , after cleaning as need and checking for pest .
For amaryllis to bloom around the wintertime solstice towards the destruction of December 21 , convey container plants indoors from mid- to late August .
Withhold water and fertilizer to pressure them into dormancy . After the leaf sensationalistic and die back , remove them .
It takes the leaves about four weeks to snuff it back , so the dormancy time period will start around the end of September .
Once the leaves are gone , move mess to a cool , dark locating for eight to 10 weeks of ease – temperature of 50 to 60 ° F are ideal .
See our supplemental guidebook , “ How to Care for Amaryllis After Flowering , ” for a deeper dive .
After resting , move bulb back to a sunny maculation indoors to start the unfolding cycle again . Replace the top two inches of grease withfresh potting mediumand pee good .
flower typically appear six to eight workweek later . Adjust the timeline to encourage later blooms if desired .
Bulbs should be repottedevery three or four geezerhood .
For more tips on how to care for amaryllis , look up to our grow guide .
A Winter Favorite
With their beautiful , bold blooms and easy cultivation , drive amaryllis to flower indoors is fun and rewarding – and you could save the bulbs for years of enjoyment !
Grow them in small pots of soil for the good resolution and remember to turn the container day by day to prevent leaning towards the sun .
Set pots out in the garden after inflorescence , then bring them indoors at summertime ’s end for another wintertime of dramatic flush !
And formore information about develop amaryllis , add these guides to your reading material leaning next :
© involve the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product photos via Burpee , Eden Brothers , and Nature Hills Nursery . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Lorna Kring
