The amaryllis bulb is a beautiful and easy-to-grow plant that is native to South Africa. It is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family, which also includes daffodils, lilies, and onions.
The bulbs are relatively easy to grow and many people grow them indoors in the fall for an indoor bloom display during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Even though the Amaryllis plant is easy to grow year round, many people in colder garden climates tend to grow Amaryllis for Christmas, then discard them after they are done blooming. However you decide to grow your Amaryllis, you will learn how to do it all by the end of this post.
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Check out this Amaryllis Bulb kit for an easy why to start your bulb!
Here are some additional tips for growing Amaryllis plants:
There is no reason you need to trash your Amaryllis plants after they are done blooming. Amaryllis can grow happily indoors as a houseplant, even spending the late spring, summer and fall outdoors if you wish.
Amaryllis bulbs are best planted in the fall, so that they can flower in the winter or early spring. Amaryllis can be planted in pots or in the ground. If planting in the ground, choose a location that gets full sun. After planting, water the amaryllis bulb well and keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Once the bulb has started to grow, you can water it less frequently. Amaryllis bulbs do not need a lot of fertilizer. A light application of fertilizer in the spring will help the plant to flower.
The bulbs are relatively pest and disease free. However, they can be susceptible to root rot if the soil is too wet. If you notice that the leaves of your amaryllis plant are starting to turn yellow, this could be a sign of root rot. In this case, you will need to repot the plant in a pot with well-draining soil.
With proper care, Amaryllis bulbs will bloom for several weeks. Once the flowers have faded on your plant, you can cut the stems back to the base of the bulb. The bulb will go dormant for a few months, but it will start to grow again in the fall.
Propagating by dividing Amaryllis offsets
Offsets are small baby bulbs that grow around the main bulb. To propagate Amaryllis by dividing offsets, you will need to wait until the offsets are at least 2 inches in diameter. Once the offsets are large enough, you can carefully separate them from the main bulb. Separating the bulbs too soon and they may not transplant well. Plant the offsets in a well-draining potting mix and water them regularly. The offsets should start to flower in a few years.
Propagating by sectioning Amaryllis bulbs
Sectioning is a more advanced method of propagating Amaryllis. To propagate Amaryllis by sectioning, you will need to cut the main bulb into several pieces. Each piece should have at least one basal plate, which is the disc-shaped structure at the bottom of the bulb. Plant the sections in a well-draining potting mix and water them regularly. The sections should start to flower in a few years.
Here are some tips for propagating Amaryllis:
Here is a table comparing the two methods of propagating Amaryllis:
Method | Description | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|---|
Dividing offsets | Separating small bulbs from the main bulb | Easy, relatively quick | Takes a few years for the offsets to flower |
Section | Cutting the main bulb into several pieces | Can be used to propagate larger bulbs | More difficult, takes longer for the sections to flower |
Which method you choose will depend on your preferences and the size of the amaryllis bulb you have. If you have a small bulb, you may want to try dividing offsets. If you have a larger bulb, you may want to try sectioning.
Propagating Amaryllis is a great way to get more plants for free but it will take years for blooms and may not be worth the potential frustration.
The Amaryllis plant can re-bloom year after year with proper care. Here are the steps on how to get your amaryllis to rebloom:
If you plan the Amaryllis dormancy just right you can have your plant re-blooming around Thanksgiving or Christmas! July is a good time to start easing your Amaryllis plants into dormancy.
Learning how to care for Amaryllis plants is a good skill to have as a gardener. Your friends and family will ooo and ahhh over your gorgeous Amaryllis plants during the holidays.
Happy Gardening
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