How to Care for Amaryllis

• In spring, amaryllis can thrive outdoors in a bright, sunny spot.

• Near the end of summer, bring your amaryllis indoors as it prepares for its next cycle of blooms, or transition it to dormancy to time your winter blooms.

• When the flowers and stem fade, trim the stem down within 1-2 inches of the neck of the bulb. Be careful to not damage the leaves.

• When watering amaryllis, avoid soaking the soil and don't wet the parts of the bulb above the soil.

• During winter, care for amaryllis by placing it in a cool (mid-60 degree) location with bright, indirect light.

• To promote the next cycle of blooms, water and feed your amaryllis with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food every 7-14 days. 

Amaryllis is a beautiful bulb plant that produces large, colorful bell-shaped flowers and thrives indoors. Most people treat their amaryllis bulbs as "one-and-done" flowers. In truth, they keep getting better with time. The bulbs get bigger, producing more flower stems. Here are some steps for taking care of your amaryllis year-round.

Planting Amaryllis

Amaryllis is one of the easiest flower bulbs to grow and care for. Follow the steps below and get excited for big, beautiful blooms!

• Start by choosing the largest bulb available because the bigger the bulb, the more stems and flowers it will produce.

• A healthy bulb will be firm and free from any mold, spots, bruising, or other signs of damage.

• Select a container that drains well and is about an inch wider and twice as tall as your bulb.

• Fill the pot halfway with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix and place your bulb into the pot with the pointed end facing up.

• Once in place, fill in your pot with the remaining potting mix, leaving the top 1/3 of the bulb exposed.

• Water until the potting mix is thoroughly moist, but avoid wetting the exposed portion of the bulb.

• Place your newly planted amaryllis in a sunny spot and you should have blooms in about 8-10 weeks.

• Amaryllis does not like to sit in water, so wait until the top 2 inches of soil are dry to water again.

Caring for Amaryllis in Spring and Summer

Once temperatures stay above 50 degrees at night, you have the option of taking your amaryllis outside.

• Acclimate it to the outdoors by placing it in a shady area for 3 days and gradually expose it to more sun.

• These plants love sunshine. After it's had time to acclimate outside, place it in a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sun daily.

• Amaryllis doesn't need to be planted in the ground. Feel free can keep it on your porch, or bury the pot in your garden bed.

 Be sure to keep it well fed and watered to help it produce more leaves. This is when your bulb is storing up energy to produce more flowers, and healthier bulbs mean more flower stems and more blooms per stem.

Transitioning Amaryllis Indoors in Fall

Bring your amaryllis indoors in late summer before the first frost. As fall approaches, your amaryllis flowers will fade, but worry not. Follow these steps to help it bloom again:

• Once the flowers have faded and the stem turns yellow, cut the stem off 1-2 inches above the neck of the bulb.

• Be careful to not injure the leaves or any emerging flower stalks. The leaves are needed to replenish the bulb so it can bloom again.

• Water enough to keep the soil moist, and avoid wetting the portion of the bulb that is above the soil.

• Feed your amaryllis with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food every 7-14 days to promote reblooming.

• Keep your amaryllis in the sunniest spot you can find in your house. More sun will mean bigger blooms later.

Caring for Winter Blooms

Once your winter blooms have arrived, enjoy them for as long as possible by moving your amaryllis out of bright direct light and into a location with diffused light and slightly cooler indoor temperatures (in the 60-degree range). 

 
Keep the potting mix barely moist. When you water, be careful not to wet the portion of the bulb that sticks above the soil. If you have a large bulb, you may get two or three flowering stalks that bloom over a period of several weeks.

Timing Amaryllis Blooms for Christmas

Amaryllis is a tropical plant, and its flowering is controlled primarily by moisture. While this flower does not require a dormant period to bloom again, you can control its environment to coordinate when you want it to bloom. Here's what to do to get amazing blooms for the holidays:

• In late summer, bring your amaryllis inside and place it in a sunny spot.

• Stop watering and feeding.

• The leaves, flowers, and stems will begin to fade. Once they have yellowed, cut them off and move the plant to a cool, dark place with temperatures between 55-60 degrees.

• The bulb will need at least 8-10 weeks of rest.

• After the rest period, move it to a warm, sunny spot and water thoroughly.

• After 8-10 weeks in a warm and sunny spot, it should begin to bloom again.

• If you want your amaryllis in bloom for Christmas, its rest period should start in early September and moved to a warm, sunny spot in late October.

Amaryllis is a great flower to have in your houseplant collection, and getting it to rebloom will give you all sorts of confidence in your green thumb abilities. Be sure to check out how to grow paperwhites for even more flowers that bloom indoors during winter.