How to grow an amaryllis

In a pot: Place bulb in container just a bit larger than the bulb. Add potting soil, keeping the top of the bulb, where it tapers inward, above soil level. Water thoroughly, then keep soil moist but not soggy until growth begins.

Place container in a sunny location. Jim Threadgill puts his pots outside, under trees where they get dappled shade. When flowers appear, he brings them indoors. If you prefer to keep the pot inside, move it to a place with less light to preserve flower color and length of bloom. Some large-flowered varieties grow so tall they may require staking.

You can grow several bulbs together in a larger, but not deeper, container. Miniature amaryllises are especially showy in this type of display.

After blooming, remove spent stalks several inches above the bulb top. Return pot to a sunny location to promote healthy leaves, which store food for next year’s flowers. Keep watering and fertilize monthly with a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer. Some varieties are evergreen; others lose their leaves. When plants are dormant, stop watering and fertilizing. Resume watering when flower spike appears. Plants will revert to their normal bloom period of May and June.

In the ground: For coastal gardens, select a sunny location. Inland, amaryllis plants do better with afternoon shade, which keeps flowers from fading. Because they are shallow-rooted, these plants grow well under trees, are drought-tolerant and don’t need much care. Use organic snail bait to protect new leaves.