Amaryllis Bulb Care & Feeding

Amaryllis bulbs bloom two or three times a year when given proper care.

Amaryllis bulbs produce two to five large, showy blossoms atop thick stalks. They are often forced into bloom indoors and given as holiday gift plants, but they also grow well outdoors in warm climates.

Indoors

Amaryllis bulbs need a sunny window that receives at least four hours of direct sunlight per day. Water as necessary to keep the soil moist but not wet. Once the bulb has leaves, fertilize twice monthly with a liquid house-plant fertilizer.

Rest Period

Amaryllis bulbs need a rest period after they bloom. Cut the faded flower stalk off at the base but leave the leaves on the bulb, and place the bulb in an area with temperatures around 55 degrees F. The bulb needs very little water and no fertilizer during the rest period. Allow the bulb to rest for eight to ten weeks.

Outdoors

In U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zones 8 to 10, amaryllis bulbs survive the winter outdoors. They must be dug up and brought indoors for winter storage in cooler zones. The bulbs need a weed-free bed and an evenly moist soil, and a layer of mulch helps provide these conditions. Water as necessary and feed with a low-nitrogen fertilizer every other month in spring and summer.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Amaryllis
• North Carolina State University Extension: Home Forcing of Potted Amaryllis
• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Amaryllis