How to Transplant Amaryllis Flowers

Amaryllis blooms

Amaryllis is often forced to bloom in midwinter, near the Christmas holidays. While it can be sold as a potted plant, amaryllis also grows well outdoors in areas with mild winters and little freezing. When transplanted outdoors, amaryllis keeps its green foliage for much of the summer and blooms in late summer. Whether you are transplanting amaryllis to the garden permanently or just for a season, doing so properly ensures the plants grow and bloom well.

Things You'll Need

• Compost
• Fertilizer
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost or peat moss over a well-drained garden bed that receives light shade. Apply 2 lbs. of 6-6-6 analysis fertilizer to every 100 square feet of bed, then work the compost and fertilizer into the top 6 inches of soil.

2. Dig each planting hole to the same depth of the bulb. Set the bulb in the hole so the neck of the bulb emerges above the soil surface. Space the bulbs 12 to 15 inches apart in clusters of up to 10 bulbs.

3. Water the amaryllis bulbs immediately after planting, moistening the top 6 inches of soil. Water one to two times a week to maintain this level of moisture in the soil.

4. Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch over the bed once new growth begins. Mulch helps retain soil moisture while preventing some weed growth.

5. Dig up and transplant the bulbs every three to five years after the foliage dies back in fall. Dig up bulbs and separate the new baby bulbs from the mother bulbs, then replant at the proper spacing. Dividing helps prevent the bed from becoming crowded.

Tips & Warnings

• In areas with freezing winters, you can dig and store the amaryllis bulbs in a cool, dark place indoors and replant in spring.

• Never cut off amaryllis foliage until it turns yellow and dies back on it own. Amaryllis requires its foliage to collect nutrients for the next year's bloom.

References

• University of Florida Extension: Amaryllis
• University of California Davis Cooperative Extension: Amaryllis