AMARYLLIS ARE EASY TO GROW INDOORS DURING WINTER. SOME VARIETIES ARE QUICK BLOOMING, IN 4-6 WEEKS, NAMELY THE SOUTH AFRICAN AND PERUVIAN VARIETIES. THESE ARE PLANTED AROUND THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER AND CAN BE TIMED FOR CHRISTMAS BLOOMS. THE DUTCH VARIETIES ARE A BIT MORE EXPENSIVE AND ARE ESPECIALLY PRIZED FOR THEIR LARGE VIBRANT FLOWERS AND LONGER BLOOM CYCLES, BLOOMING BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH. I NEVER STRESS WHEN THEY BLOOM - I ALWAYS WANT FLOWERS IN THE WINTERTIME (I ALWAYS WANT FLOWERS) AND IF YOU ARE PREPARING THESE FOR A HOLIDAY GIFT, THEN HALF THE FUN IS GETTING TO WATCH THEM GROW AND BLOOM. I LIKE TO GROW A FEW VARIETIES FOR STAGGERED BLOOMS THAT LAST ALL WINTER LONG.

CHOOSE A 6-7” POT (THE BULB SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 1” AROUND THE SIDES AND AT THE BOTTOM. I ALSO LIKE TO PLANT AMARYLLIS IN TALL CLEAR VASES, WHICH HELPS SUPPORT THEM. AMARYLLIS LIKE TO BE CROWDED IN THEIR VASE. IF YOU CHOOSE A SHALLOW POT, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO PLACE A FEW BRANCHES IN TO HELP SUPPORT THEM. I LOVE THE LOOK OF BRANCHES THAT ARE COVERED IN LICHEN OR USING CURLY WILLOW.

AMARYLLIS DON’T NEED SPECIAL SOIL. IF YOUR POT IS GLAZED OR DOESN’T DRAIN THEN IT IS WISE TO USE A QUICK DRAINING SOIL WITH PEAT AND OR PERLITE.

PLACE A COUPLE INCHES OF MOIST POTTING SOIL IN THE BOTTOM OF THE POT AND PLANT THE BULB WITH ITS “SHOULDERS” ABOVE THE SOIL SO ABOUT 1” OR SO STICKS OUT ABOVE THE SOIL. FILL IN WITH POTTING SOIL AND PRESS TO FIRM. WATER JUST ENOUGHT TO FULLY MOISTEN AND SETTLE THE SOIL. AMARYLLIS LIKE TO BE CROWDED IN THEIR VASE.

PLACE ON A WARM SURFACEM A RADIATOR OR HEAT MAT (CAN BE USED FOR STARTING SEEDS COME SPRING!) THE TOP OF A REFRIGERATOR MIGHT WORK. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ROOMS WITH HEATED FLOORS AND I START MINE RIGHT ON THE FLOOR IN GLASS VASES.

WATER VERY SPARINGLY UNTIL THE SPROUT IS A FEW INCHES TALL. ONCE THE SPROUT APPEARS, WATER ONLY WHEN THE SOIL IS DRY AND WATER LIGHTLY. OVERWATERING IS THE BIGGEST THING TO WATCH OUT FOR. ROTATE YOUR POT REGULARLY TO KEEP THE STEMS STRONG AND STRAIGHT. WHEN YOU SEE IT REACHING, GIVE THE POT A TURN.

ONCE YOUR AMARYLLIS BEGINS TO FLOWER, MOVE TO A COOL SPOT OUT OF THE SUN AND AWAY FROM HEAT WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE A DISPLAY. THE COOLER THE LONGER IT WILL LAST. A MUDROOM OR ENTRY WAY, DINING TABLE, BOOKSHELF, DESK… OURS LIVE ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER.

YOUR BULB WILL MAKE SEVERAL FLOWERS PER STALK, AND MOST WILL GROW 2-3 STALKS. REMOVE EACH FLOWER AS IT FADES.

YOU CAN KEEP THESE FOR NEXT YEAR WITH MINIMAL CARE! HERE IS A TUTORIAL.