Amaryllis…a Different Christmas Plant

Now that Christmas is over, wondering what to do with that Amaryllis you received as a gift. With the growing popularity of this plant to be when decorating for the Christmas season, more and more people are wondering the same thing. With a little care and the proper attention, it is possible to enjoy this plant for many years to come, especially during the Christmas season when it shows off its 8-10-inch blooms.

When Christmas season is over, and the Amaryllis has finished blooming, this plant settles into its role as a houseplant for the rest of the winter. At this time, the plant will need care just like the rest of your houseplants, just water, a little sunlight, good soil and fertilization. After the danger of frost has passed in your area, these plants can be set outside in a partially shaded area.

In early September, it will be time to begin getting these plants ready for blooming during Christmas. The first steps is to bring the plant indoors in early September, and begin to reduce the water it takes in, gradually giving it less and less until it gets no water on or around October 1st. Reducing the amount of water, until it has stopped is necessary to ripen the foliage and drying it out. Once the foliage has dried, it will need to be removed and the bulb will need to rest for about a month, until sometime between November 1 and 15. After allowing the bulb to dry and rest, it will be time to trigger new growth by washing a couple of inches of the old surface soil away and replacing it with new soil.

After replacing the soil, the Amaryllis will now need to be watered thoroughly, allowed to drain and not watered again until new growth appears. This new growth is the flower bud, not the foliage as one might think. The foliage develops when the flowers begin opening. After the first signs of new growth occur, keep soil moist, fertilize monthly and put the bulb in a location where it can receive at least half a day of bright light. The stems will grow fast, usually 12-24 inches and will bloom for about a month. With the proper care, the Amaryllis should be ready in time to enjoy it during the Christmas season.

Some things to keep in mind concerning Amaryllis bulbs is that they probably will not replace the Poinsettia during Christmas, but they are easy to grow and therefore, easy to enjoy during Christmas. Other things to remember are the bulbs are big, usually the size of a grapefruit and the bigger the bulb, the bigger the blooms will be. Also, for convenience, these bulbs are generally sold in starter kits, complete with pot, potting soil and the bulb, all you have to do is care for it properly and repot it in 3-4 years and you are set to enjoy this beautiful plant for many years.