POSTED BY PEGGY: Finally, I did it. I got my Amaryllis bulb to re-bloom.
I always knew that if I treated my Amaryllis bulb with care, I could get it to re-bloom year after year.
The bulbs planted outside in my back yard bloomed every year. Why not this bulb? I was never sure what to do with my Amaryllis plant after it bloomed. In the past I would cut off the flower stalk and put it with my other house plants, watering it once a week. The plant wasn’t very attractive with its long, flopping leaves. In an effort to tidy it up, I would cut off the leaves. Eventually the bulb would rot and get thrown on the compost pile.
Now I realize what I was doing wrong. Just like the bulbs planted in my back yard, the Amaryllis bulb needs time to replenish itself in order to bloom again. I needed to let the leaves grow, collecting energy from the sun and then let the bulb rest.
This year I changed my routine. After my Amaryllis bulb was done blooming, I cut off the flower stalk and moved it to a bright spot with the rest of my house plants, watering once a week. In April, after the first frost, I planted the Amaryllis plant in my garden. I placed it full sun, in a spot that was partially hidden by other plants. I watered it once a week if needed. The leaves continued to grow tall and green.
On October 15th, just before the first frost, I dug up the bulb and cut off the leaves. I placed the bulb in a small pot with a drainage hole and surrounded it with potting mix. I moved it inside the house to a cool, dark place in my basement. One month later, I placed it in a sunny window. Within a week, to my sheer delight, there was a flower bud popping out. Six weeks later three glorious blooms appeared.
I have already marked my calendar for April 15th 2009 “plant Amaryllis bulb in garden”, October 15th 2009 “bring in Amaryllis bulb, to a cool, dark spot” and Nov 15th 2009 “move amaryllis bulb to sunny window”. Now that I’ve learned how to care for my Amaryllis bulb, I will be able to enjoy its beauty for years to come.
4 Comments
February 26, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Hey Kim! I have just started watering my amaryllises. Only 3 out of seven have started to put forth leaves. Mine seem to like to bloom later each year. I think they are aiming for Easter! I just put them back under light .Progress has been very slow. We’ll see. Anyone know about the timing on these plants as far as blooming is concerned? botanicalann p.s. Last year, one of mine made a baby bulb. (Happy thought!) I now have that potted and new leaves are starting on that one.
February 26, 2009 at 8:58 pm
That’s funny, mine made a baby bulb too. so cute. I’m not sure about the timing. did you put yours outside for the summer or keep it inside?
P
September 28, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I just dug up about 20 large bulbs that were left at an old house.They were in a raised bed with sandy soil,and that was packed!- there are 4-5 times that many I left (feeling greedy). They have very large bulbs with many babies and lots of green leaves. Should I just plant them here in my garden or go to the trouble of drying them? Obviously they have done fine outside by themselves for years but I don’t know if they ever bloomed.
September 29, 2009 at 10:46 am
Hi Rachel — How fun! If they’re green, I would plant — try some indoors and some outdoors since that’s the way they were growing previously. Where do you live? I can’t imagine an amaryllis overwintering outside successfully in St. Louis, but if you can pull it off — that’s awesome!