Grow amaryllis now for Christmas blooms
While standing in line in a local big-box store, a display of boxed amaryllis bulbs caught my eye.
Amaryllis bulbs have been standing in the sidelines for several weeks: on the back side of the florist’s counter at the grocery store and near the cash register at the garden centre. I look at the boxes and think, maybe next week — but it really is time to stock up and get the bulbs planted.
If you’ve never tried your hand at growing amaryllis at home, this just might be the year to give them a try. First and foremost, they are very easy to grow. Aboxed kit contains everything you need: soil, pot and bulb — you just have to pick the colour and you are ready to go. It’s a great project for both the young and the young at heart — the bulbs sprout quickly and grow to an impressive size in a matter of weeks. Watching the large buds unpack themselves is truly a wonder.
Amaryllis can be potted up in soil or grown in a clear container filled with gravel and water, I’ve even seen gold or silver bulbs (covered in wax) that don’t even need planting in order to flower. How is this possible? The bulb has everything it needs to flower packed right into that grapefruit-sized package.
I’ve grown amaryllis at home for many years. Some years I’ve started more than a dozen amaryllis so that I can enjoy their beautiful colours during the winter season — they are not just for Christmas. To guarantee success, there are a few extra steps I like to take before planting the bulbs.
When possible, I prefer to buy loose bulbs so that I can see if they are solid and have a decent root system attached. Size matters — a larger bulb will generally put on a better show.
I plant amaryllis in mediumsized clay pots. I find the heavier pots help to balance the tall stems and heavy flowers. You can also start the bulbs in the plastic pots that come in the kit and then tuck the lighter pot right into a heavier (and more decorative) pot before it comes into flower.
Amaryllis like a well-drained soil, if preparing your own mix, combine a two parts of a good quality potting soil (like ProMix) with one part of coarse sand. They do not like to sit with their feet wet, the bulb may rot.
Choose a pot that is about 2.5 centimetres larger all around than the bulb, amaryllis like to be a little pot bound. Make sure the pot has a drainage hole. Shallow bulb pans are not suitable, use a taller pot that will better accommodate the plant’s roots.
If you are recycling a used pot, give it a good scrub with soap and water and then let it sit in a sink of water for a few minutes, until the pot stops hissing. Clay pots are very porous and a dry pot will act as blotter and absorb the water from your soil.
Place a few pieces of broken terra cotta in the bottom of the pot, to prevent the planting medium from clogging the drainage hole.
Next, take a moment to condition the bulb. Examine the bulb and remove any dead, dried out roots.
Soak the fleshy, intact roots in tepid water for about an hour to refresh them. A sturdy coffee mug or tumbler, that is a little smaller than the bulb, works perfectly. The water soak helps to wake up the dormant bulb and the roots become pliable and easier to plant.
Make a mound of soil in the bottom of the pot (it should reach half-way up) and gently arrange the roots over this mound. Fill more soil around the bulb, leaving the top third of the bulb exposed. The neck and shoulders of the bulb will be exposed, this helps to keep water out of the bulb and prevents rotting the bud.
Label the pot if you are growing more than one variety. Water the soil around the bulb and allow it to drain in a sink before setting the pot on its saucer. Place the pot in a sunny room, 18 C at night and 24 C during the day is ideal. Once the flowers start to open, move the plant out of direct sunlight to extend the life of the flowers.
Amaryllis do not like to be overwatered. Keep the soil moist, but never soggy. Check the pots every three to five days, if the soil feels cool and moist, do not add more water. Depending on the container and humidity levels in the house, the pot will typically need water every five to seven days.
Amaryllis produce flowers on thick, tall stems that are hollow. As the flowers start to open, the stem may need a little help to support the flower. Bamboo sticks (or suitable garden twigs, cut to size) tucked into the pot and woven with cotton twine works well for support. If the flower is just too heavy, cut the stem and place in a sturdy vase — amaryllis make long-lasting cut flowers.
If you’d rather not start from scratch, several local growers start amaryllis and sell them potted and sprouted — you just bring them home and set them in a sunny window. Look for potted amaryllis at local floral counters.
Purchase amaryllis bulbs now, if they have not already sprouted, store a few bulbs in a cool spot and stagger the planting time to enjoy a longer display of colour.