Things You'll Need:
- Amaryllis bulb
- Potting soil
- Container
- Liquid organic fertilizer
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Step 1
Plant amaryllis bulbs indoors anytime from October through February. Soak the bulb’s roots in warm water for 15 minutes prior to planting to make them more flexible and easy to spread when potting up the bulb.
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Step 2
Container grown amaryllis prefer to be a bit pot bound, so choose a container that is only an inch or two wider in diameter than the bulb (4- or 6-inch pots are usually a good bet) and has at least one drainage hole.
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Step 3
Grow amaryllis in well-draining, high quality potting soil. Pre-moisten the soil to make it easier to work with. Then, pour a layer of soil into the bottom of the container. Position the bulb in the pot, making sure that the top 1/2 to 1/3 of the bulb’s neck will remain above the soil line once the pot is filled in. Leave 1/2 inch of room between the soil and the rim of the pot for watering.
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Step 4
Water the bulb in well. Hold off on watering again until you see green growth emerging from the bulb. Once the amaryllis begins to grow, you should water it whenever the top 1/2 inch of soil dries out. Place the amaryllis in a location that gets bright indirect light. Fertilize with a diluted, liquid organic fertilizer every six weeks during active growth.
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Step 5
Amaryllis typically bloom two to three months after planting and flower for several weeks. Cut off the flowers when they finish blooming. Wait to remove the flower stalk until it begins to yellow and wilt, then cut it off two inches above the bulb. Amaryllis’ long, strap-like leaves stay green for several months after the plant finishes blooming.
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Step 6
When the leaves turn yellow (usually in late summer or early fall), cut them back to the base of the bulb and stop watering. Put the bulb in a cool, dark place for at least 6 weeks. After this period of rest, bring the bulb back out, place it in a sunny spot, water it in well, and wait for the growth cycle to begin again.
