Amaryllis ...Another seasonal plant. A friend of mine has two amaryllis bulb she intends on placing in ceramic planters this week. They will bloom after Christmas, but what the heck? Amaryllis produce beautiful blooms, anytime.
When first received my amaryllis bulb, I was appreciative, yet not sure how to care for. The only thing I knew about amaryllis bulbs were that they were sold at Christmastime, were red in color and bloomed once and were discarded. So, I began the "amaryllis journey" by reading instructions which were included with bulb, that said to plant in soil up to the crown, water, place in sunny location indoors and watch for red blooms in four to six weeks. Well needless to say, I wanted more info. And what heaps of info was available: blooms come in many different colors, some can be grown outdoors, bulbs can be saved and replanted, etc.
The following info was copied from amaryllis.com. I thought it was good reading, just enough info to have you looking for more.
Quick Tips:
- Planting Period: October until the end of April.
- Flowering Period: Late December until the end of June.
- Flowering time is 7-10 weeks.
- Larger bulbs produce more flowers.
- Always store un-planted bulbs in a cool place between 40-50 deg. F.
Amaryllis-One of a Kind
Of all flowering bulbs, amaryllis are the easiest to bring to bloom. This can be accomplished indoors or out, and over an extended period of time. The amaryllis originated in South America's tropical regions and has the botanical name Hippeastrum. The large flowers and ease with which they can be brought to bloom make amaryllis popular and in demand worldwide. The amaryllis 
Preparation for Planting
The base and roots of the bulb should be placed in lukewarm water for a few hours. Remember, if you cannot plant the bulbs immediately after receiving them, store them at a cool temperature between 40-50 degrees F.
Planting
Plant bulbs in a nutritious potting compost, many are available pre-mixed. Plant the bulb up to
its neck in the potting compost, being careful not to damage the roots. Press the soil down firmly to set the bulb securely in place after planting.
Placement and Watering
Plant the bulb, or place the potted bulb in a warm place with direct light since heat is necessary for the development of the stems. The ideal temperature is 68 to 70 degrees F. Water sparingly until the stem appears, then, as the bud and leaves appear, gradually water more. At this point, the stem will grow rapidly and flowers will develop after it has reached full growth.
Flowering Period
Bulbs will flower in 7-10 weeks as a general rule. In winter the flowering time will be longer than in spring. Set up your planting schedule between October and April with this in mind. To achieve continuous bloom, plant at intervals of 2 weeks for stunning color in your home or garden.
After-Bloom Care
After-Flowering. After the amaryllis has stopped flowering, it can be made to flower again. 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 the leaves begin to yellow, which normally occurs in the early fall, cut the leaves back to about 2 inches from the top of the bulb and remove the bulb from the soil.
Bulb Storage. Clean the bulb and place it in a cool (40-50 deg. F), dark place such as the crisper of your refrigerator for a minimum of 6 weeks. Caution: Do not store amaryllis bulbs in a refrigerator that contains apples, this will sterilize the bulbs. Store the bulbs for a minimum of 6 weeks.
Plant Again. After 6 weeks you may remove bulbs whenever you would like to plant them. Plant bulbs 8 weeks before you would like them to bloom.
So when you receive that amaryllis bulb, do not be intimidated, just learn about it, plant it and enjoy it. They make a great Christmas gift. Try one.
Remember that our daylily farm website, Oakville Farm, will be up and running in a short while. Please stay close by and keep those daylily plants in mind and on your list!
Hope you have a good day. And until next time, Happy Gardening.
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