With magnificent blooms in vibrant colours, amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) is the darling amongst pressured winter bulbs.
These frost-tender tropical crops are hardy in Zones 9 to 11, however they reply effectively to forcing indoors, producing one to 3 thick stems with as much as six trumpet-shaped flowers per stem.
Whereas the backyard’s asleep, the one or double blooms add dramatic colour to the house in wealthy shades of maroon, orange, pink, salmon, scarlet, white, and yellow, in addition to bicolors and a few with contrasting picotee edges.
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And regardless of every bulb’s giant measurement, they don’t require a giant container to develop in and do finest in smaller pots.
Grown singly, they make a hanging focus. Planted in multiples, they create a spectacular, showy show.
Plus, they make an outstanding reward for any gardener, from greenhorn to inexperienced thumb!
For those who’d prefer to get pleasure from a few of these tropical beauties in your house this winter, be a part of us now for all the main points on the way to power amaryllis indoors.
Right here’s what we’ll cowl:
Amaryllis Fundamentals
The acquainted, large-flowered amaryllis bulbs of the winter season belong to the Hippeastrum genus of the Amaryllidaceae household.
This genus comprises over 90 species and lots of of cultivars – with amaryllis among the many most dazzling.
The large bulbs – with a 10- to 14-inch circumference – that arrive in retailers in autumn are Hippeastrum hybrids, initially from the tropical and subtropical areas of the Caribbean and elements of Central and South America.
“True” crops within the genus Amaryllis are recognized generally as belladonna lily, Jersey lily, or naked-lady lily.
For readability, on this article the phrase amaryllis, with out italics, is used because the frequent identify for crops within the Hippeastrum genus.
Hippeastrum bulbs produce one to 3 flower stems, or scapes, of 18 to 25 inches in size, and develop two to 6 giant, star-shaped flowers per stem.
Lengthy, strappy leaves of shiny darkish inexperienced usually seem after the flowers and develop as much as 36 inches lengthy.
In nature, Hippeastrum crops flower in spring or summer time, however have turn out to be extremely well-liked for forcing into early bloom over the winter holidays.
And since the blooms don’t open all collectively, the flowering interval can final for a number of weeks.
As tender perennials, most are hardy solely in Zones 9 to 11.
But when they’re tended to correctly, potted bulbs can stay for many years, with anecdotal experiences of bulbs being handed on from era to era.
Forcing them to flower is finest finished in a container full of soil the place the moisture may be simply managed.
Hydroponic or water-only development makes the bulbs inclined to mould and decay, however may be finished efficiently with care – extra on this in a bit.
And it also needs to be famous that ingestion could trigger abdomen upset in individuals and all plant elements are poisonous to cats, canines, and horses.
Selecting Bulbs
For the perfect floral show, buy the biggest bulbs accessible.
Giant bulbs usually tend to produce a second or third stem of their first 12 months – which suggests extra of these luxurious flowers!
Smaller ones usually solely produce one flower stalk of their first 12 months.
Test that bulbs are freed from blemishes, mould, and gentle spots, discarding any with indicators of fungal harm.
Cultivars to Choose
The Hippeastrum genus has over 600 named cultivars thus far, so that you’ll by no means be wanting for selection!
Uncover 17 really helpful amaryllis varieties in our information. Listed below are a number of favourite solutions to get you began:
Cherry Nymph
There’s no want for poinsettias with the elegant ‘Cherry Nymph’ on show.
The total, double blooms are deep cherry purple with a touch of white flippantly streaking the ruffled petals and ideas – excellent colours for the vacations.
‘Cherry Nymph’
These sturdy crops produce giant, eight-inch flowers in clusters of 4 on one or two stems. Flowers seem six to 9 weeks after planting.
‘Cherry Nymph’ bulbs may be discovered at Eden Brothers in packages of 1, three, and 5.
Royal Velvet
Darkish and dramatic, ‘Royal Velvet’ produces good-looking, six- to eight-inch flowers of deep burgundy with a incredible, light-reflective pearlescent sheen.
‘Royal Velvet’
Crops develop 16 to 24 inches, creating one to 3 stems with three to 5 blooms per stem. Count on flowers six to eight weeks after planting.
You’ll find ‘Royal Velvet’ bulbs accessible at Eden Brothers.
Candy Lilian
With delicate, orchid-like flowers, ‘Candy Lilian’ enchants with ribbon-like petals streaked in rose to magenta, and fading to white on the edges and ideas.
‘Candy Lilian’
The massive bulbs develop two stems with 4 to 6 giant, six-inch flowers and develop 16 to 24 inches in top. Count on flowers six to eight weeks after planting.
‘Candy Lilian’ bulbs can be found at Burpee.
Potting Up
For wholesome development with most flowers, select a well-draining pot that’s about two inches wider than the bulb’s diameter and not more than twice its top.
This will likely appear insufficient with regard to the bulb’s measurement, however they really do higher in a tight-fitting, root certain atmosphere.
Guarantee pots have satisfactory drainage holes and that they’ve some substance to them to counteract the load of full blooms, to stop tipping.
If wanted, lay down an inch of pebbles over the drainage gap so as to add a little bit of weight, or plan to position containers in a sturdy cachepot.
Add a number of inches of a humus-rich, well-draining potting medium to the underside of the container.
Earlier than planting, soak the roots in water for a minimum of one hour, or in a single day.
Use a shallow bowl and set bulbs root-end down, then add one-half to at least one inch of tepid water to rehydrate the basal plate and roots. Don’t submerge bulbs solely.
After soaking, gently dab with a paper towel to take away extra moisture.
Sit the bulb on the soil so about one-third of the bulb’s prime, or neck, is above the soil line, including extra soil to fill in across the edges as wanted. Preserving the neck above the soil helps to stop rot.
Presently, it’s additionally a good suggestion to set a stake or two in place to offer assist for leaves and stems as they develop.
Amaryllis Assist Package
A helpful, adjustable copper stake for amaryllis, orchids, and different long-stemmed flowers is obtainable at Burpee.
Learn extra in our information to amaryllis assist stakes.
If desired, you possibly can cowl the soil with ornamental glass marbles, moss, or pebbles.
Water the soil gently however totally, till water comes out of the drainage gap.
Place the pot in a saucer and don’t water once more till new development emerges, in two to eight weeks.
Set your container in a vibrant, sunny location.
After development emerges, keep soil moisture so it’s barely moist however not moist.
Temperature and Location
The perfect situations for forcing amaryllis blooms indoors embrace an atmosphere with six hours of vibrant or direct daylight and temperatures within the vary of 60 to 80°F.
If wanted, you possibly can attempt to stimulate the bulb to develop by putting its container on a heating mat till development emerges.
As soon as the flower scapes seem, rotate pots 1 / 4 flip every single day or two to make sure stems develop straight and true.
Simply earlier than flowers open, transfer containers out of direct daylight and right into a cooler spot with vibrant however oblique gentle – flowers final the longest in a cooler location round 65°F and out of direct daylight.
Meals and Water
As soon as new development emerges, water often to keep up barely moist soil whereas avoiding waterlogged situations. Permit the soil floor to dry between watering.
After flowering, feed each three to 4 weeks with a diluted, half-strength resolution of a water-soluble, balanced fertilizer with an NPK ratio akin to 10-10-10.
Waxed Bulbs
Waxed bulbs are the only to develop and don’t require water or soil, as a result of they comprise all the things essential to flower on their very own.
Merely place the bulbs on a flat saucer or dish and set in a room with vibrant however oblique gentle.
Rotate them 1 / 4 flip every single day to assist the stems develop straight after they emerge.
Waxed bulbs usually flower 4 to 6 weeks after transport.
After flowering, you possibly can take away the wax and attempt to save the bulb, however success is uncommon and most of the people dispose of those within the compost or rubbish.
Set of Three Waxed Bulbs
You’ll find a set of three red-flowering bulbs dipped in festive purple, silver, and gold wax, accessible at Eden Brothers.
Forcing in Water
Amaryllis may be grown in water utilizing a bulb or flower vase and gravel, however the bulb itself should stay out of the water to stop rot.
Fill the underside third of a flower vase or the bottom of a bulb vase with ornamental gravel, glass marbles, or pebbles.
Trim and clear the bulb, eradicating any outdated roots, lifeless matter, or soil.
Nestle the bulb, root facet down, onto the gravel. Add tepid water to about one inch under the bulb base. The bulb itself ought to by no means sit in water, solely the roots.
Set the vase in a sunny windowsill and keep temperatures between 60 and 80°F.
Test the water every day, including extra as wanted to keep up the one-inch degree. Change the water as soon as per week.
When stems are a number of inches excessive, rotate the vase 1 / 4 flip every day to advertise even development.
Care After Flowering
Though many individuals toss their bulbs after they bloom within the winter, caring for them is simple and simple, and so they’ll readily flower once more subsequent 12 months most often.
After flowering, lower the scapes a few inches under the flowers however preserve the leaves in place – they produce vitality for the bulb by way of photosynthesis.
Transfer pots to a sunny spot within the backyard as soon as nighttime temperatures keep above 50°F.
Sink the pot in backyard soil as much as the rim. Water to maintain the soil flippantly moist and feed often with a balanced 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer.
In late summer time, dig them up and convey the pots again indoors to a sunny location, after cleansing as wanted and checking for pests.
For amaryllis to bloom across the winter solstice in the direction of the tip of December 21, carry container crops indoors from mid- to late August.
Withhold water and fertilizer to power them into dormancy. After the leaves yellow and die again, take away them.
It takes the leaves about 4 weeks to die again, so the dormancy interval will begin across the finish of September.
As soon as the leaves are gone, transfer pots to a cool, darkish location for eight to 10 weeks of relaxation – temperatures of fifty to 60°F are ideally suited.
See our supplemental information, Learn how to Take care of Amaryllis After Flowering, for a deeper dive.
After resting, transfer bulbs again to a sunny spot indoors to start out the flowering cycle once more. Substitute the highest two inches of soil with recent potting medium and water totally.
Flowers usually seem six to eight weeks later. Regulate the timeline to encourage later blooms if desired.
Bulbs must be repotted each three or 4 years.
For extra recommendations on the way to look after amaryllis, check with our rising information.
A Winter Favourite
With their stunning, daring blooms and simple cultivation, forcing amaryllis to flower indoors is enjoyable and rewarding – and it can save you the bulbs for years of enjoyment!
Develop them in small pots of soil for the perfect outcomes and keep in mind to show the containers every day to stop leaning in the direction of the solar.
Set pots out within the backyard after flowering, then carry them indoors at summer time’s finish for one more winter of dramatic blooms!
Do you of us develop amaryllis indoors? Inform us about your favourite varieties for forcing within the feedback part under.
And for extra details about rising amaryllis, add these guides to your studying record subsequent:
© Ask the Consultants, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for extra particulars. Initially printed November 12, 2022. Final up to date October 31, 2026. Product photographs through Burpee, Eden Brothers, and Nature Hills Nursery. Uncredited photographs: Shutterstock.
