Forcing an Amaryllis Bulb
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Collapse ▲If you have never heard of an Amaryllis, please take some time to look them up. They are so gorgeous! They are tropical plants, native to the western Cape region of South Africa. An amaryllis grows from a large bulb and has huge, trumpet-shaped blossoms that can measure 8 inches across! The most common colors that they come in are reds, but there are many varieties out there from pink, peach, white, and even pale green. In our area, they are usually planted inside to be forced to bloom during our holiday season.
To take care of and “force” your amaryllis, here are the steps you need to take.
- Find an amaryllis bulb. You should be able to find them at local hardware stores or garden centers, even some grocery stores have them!
- Find a good pot. These bulbs can be planted in individual pots or several bulbs can be grouped together in a larger container. Make sure whichever pot you chose has a drainage hole in the bottom because Amaryllis roots do not like wet feet.
- Plant your bulb(s). Add a few inches of potting mix to the bottom of the pot and then place the bulb to where the top half of the bulb is exposed. Once your bulb is where you want it height wise, add enough soil to the sides to stabilize the bulb(s). Just make sure that the top portion is still exposed. If you wish, you can add moss or decorative stones around the top portion of the bulb for aesthetics.
- Growing conditions. Place your finished plant in a cool, sunny location in your home and water sparingly, keeping the soil barely moist. It’ll take anywhere from 4 – 12 weeks for your bulb to bloom, depending how far along the bulb was when you bought it, the variety, and the growing conditions after the bulb is planted. Rotating your planter will allow the entire plant to get enough sun and help it grow straight.
- Bloom conditions. When your flowers start to open, move the pot out of direct sunlight, this will lengthen the life of your blooms. As flowers fade, use scissors to snip them off. You can cut each stalk to just above the bulb once all flowers on that stalk have finished flowering. After you plant has finished flowering, you can either add them to your compost pile or save them to plant in the spring.
- Maintenance. To save them for spring, you’ll continue watering like usual where the soil is barely moist and fertilize monthly with standard houseplant food. Leaves will emerge from the bulb for several months which are there to make the energy for next year’s flower bulb.
*Tune back in to our website during March for more info on caring for & re-planting your amaryllis plant. If you have any questions on forcing & caring for your amaryllis, call us at 828-632-4451.
Amaryllis Bulb planting and planting stages
Apple Blossom Amaryllis