How to Store Amaryllis Bulbs

Amaryllis plants are known for their gigantic lily shaped blooms. They are an excellent potted plant for the winter holiday season and Easter. These easy-to-grow tropical plants are widely popular. After a period of rest or "enforced dormancy", you can get the bulb to produce and bloom again in pots or flower beds.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cool storage area

1. Cut the leaves on the amaryllis plant down to 2 inches from the top of the bulb after they have drooped and yellowed.

2. Remove the bulb from the flower pot and soil.

3. Thoroughly brush all soil from the bulb. Leave no moist material on the bulb. Gently pat it with a paper towel if needed to remove moisture.

4. Place bulb in a small plastic plant pot or zip into a plastic bag with air holes poked into the sides.

5. Store the bulb(s) in a cool dark place such as a basement. Bulbs should be stored in an area where temperatures are kept at 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The crisper of a refrigerator makes an ideal storage area.

6. Store bulbs for at least six weeks of forced dormancy before replanting.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not store amaryllis bulbs near any kind of apples. They will become sterilized and no longer produce blooms.

References

• Amaryllis planting and care