How to Plant Amaryllis Bulbs

Amaryllis has large, colorful blossoms.

Amaryllis bulbs produce a tall 2- to 3-foot stem topped with large flower heads. The bell-shaped blossoms are available in red, white, pink, orange, salmon or bi-colored. Each flower head has two to six blossoms. The flowers are followed by the growth of strap-like leaves. Amaryllis plants are used as landscape plants, garden edging and showcase plants. Plant amaryllis bulbs in the ground from late September through early October. Large amaryllis bulbs will produce flowers year after year.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Gardening hoe
• Organic material
• Fertilizer
• Rake
• Hand trowel
• Straw mulch

Instructions

1. Remove weeds, grass and plants from your planting site that is located in the sun but protected from the hot afternoon sunlight. Loosen the soil to the depth of 12 inches with a shovel. Amaryllis bulbs grow well in nearly any type of soil except soggy soil. Break large soil clumps up with the edge of a gardening hoe.

2. Spread 3 to 4 inches of organic material like peat moss or compost over the soil. Mix this into the loose soil. Sprinkle 2 to 3 lbs. 6-6-6 slow-release fertilizer for every 100 square feet of planting space. Mix the fertilizer into the top 6 inches of soil. Rake the soil smooth and level.

3. Dig the planting hole with a hand trowel as deep as the bulb is tall. Place the bulb in the hole so the neck of the bulb is above ground level. Fill the hole with soil and barely cover the top of the amaryllis bulb with soil.

4. Plant the rest of the bulbs 12 inches apart. Amaryllis flowers look well when planted in rows or in groups. Gently firm the soil around each of the bulbs so they stay in place.

5. Sprinkle the planting area with water and keep the soil moist until the first fall frost. Water will encourage the roots to form and grow. Spread a 2-inch layer of straw mulch or sawdust over the tops of the bulbs. This protects the bulbs from harsh winter weather and stops the quick evaporation of soil moisture.

Tips & Warnings

• Feed amaryllis bulbs with 5-10-10 or 6-12-12 slow-release fertilizer when growth begins in the spring. Use 1 lb. of fertilizer for every 100 square feet of planting space. Feed again when the flower stems are 6 to 8 inches tall and then again after the last blossom fades.

• Amaryllis plants suffer from bulb and root rot. This is mainly caused by overly wet soil that does not drain-well. Plant in containers or in raised beds if the natural ground tends to hold water. Bruised spots on amaryllis bulbs tend to rot as well. Dig up and discard any bulbs that are rotting.

References

• Clemson University Cooperative Extension: Amaryllis
• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Amaryllis