Amaryllis – an extraordinary holiday plant

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Amaryllis – an extraordinary holiday plant

What are the holidays without Amaryllis?  Not quite as lovely!  And what a spectacular hostess gift!!

• Choose large, firm bulbs – grapefruit size will give you the most blooms for your buck

• Before bloom, keep your Amaryllis in a sunny window away from cold drafts.

  

• When the flower buds start to show color, move your plant OUT of direct sunlight to a bright, indirect sunlit area
• Water well, letting the water drain out the bottom, then let it dry out before watering again.
• Cooler temps in lower light levels will prolong the blooms
• Once the bloom is gone, you can treat it like a sun-loving houseplant.
• Cut the blooms off so they don’t form seeds

  

• Leave the foliage till it’s yellowed
• When it warms up in Spring, you can plant your amaryllis, pot and all, in a sunny spot
• Bring back into the house before the first frost
• Store in a dark closet with no water for 8 to 12 weeks, letting the bulbs rest
• When new growth starts, repeat above process!

There are SO many choices!!!

How about a little “United Nations”?

And then there’s ‘Stardust’ and ‘Susan’

and  something completely different, ‘Rilona’ .

Other selections from years past….