How to Ensure Your Amaryllis Plants Thrive: Care and Growing Tips

Amaryllis has brightly coloured bulbs that make any room attractive! One might think that such beauty requires high maintenance. But this is not exactly true when it comes to amaryllis bulbs. Amaryllis care is rather easy once you have the basics down. All you have to do is plant it in a conducive potting soil with adequate sunlight and water. However, you must ensure the sun’s rays do not fall directly on it.

Amaryllis plants have strappy leaves and vast flowers like trumpet lilies. The flowers are naturally a deep red, pink, white, or a mixture of these colours. You can assume your amaryllis to bloom for 7 weeks or longer. Amaryllis has modules in the bulbs, leaves, and stems that are poisonous to people and pets.

The details of the care would vary according to the variety. This article will teach you everything you need to know about growing and caring for an Amaryllis bulb.

How to Plant Amaryllis Plant

For Amaryllis care, you must plant them properly. If your plant is not already in a pot, then you can place them in a pot about six to eight inches. Bigger and heavier pots are better for these plants because their flowers are big. You may check Hum Flowerpots or Warmplus plant pots. So, if the pots are small, they may tip and roll over because of the sheer weight of the flowers.

They grow very well in containers made of various materials, such as plastic, ceramic, or even metal. Once you have chosen the container material, you can take the following steps:

1. Before you plant them, ensure the bulbs are dry and free from damage. Also, make sure that there are no moulds growing on them. If they are damaged, it is better not to plant them. It is because you would simply spend too much time on Amaryllis care without getting any results otherwise.
2. Another important aspect of planting the Amaryllis is the type of container. Whatever the material of the container is, it should have enough holes at the bottom. It is because drainage is an important aspect of growing this plant. Adequate holes would ensure proper drainage, and this, in turn, will ensure that excess moisture does not result in rotting.
3. The next aspect is to select the size of the container. The container’s width must be at least an inch wider than the widest part of the bulb. In addition, it must be at least twice as big as the bulb’s height. It is to ensure the roots get enough space to develop properly.
4. Now, you have to fill the container with soil. This step seems easy, but getting it right is just as important. Make sure that you fill half the container with sterile soil. Also, the soil must be of good quality with adequate organic material. It is essential for Amaryllis’s care and proper development.
5. Next, you need to place the bulb in the soil such that the roots are downwards. The bulb must be higher than the edge of the container. Keep adding more soil, and tap it firmly. Do this until only half or one-third of the bulb is visible.
6. Keep the container in a sink where it can drain properly. Now, water the soil to ensure that the soil is moist enough for the plant. All your plant needs now will get sunlight. So you can place the plant at a window.

Once you have followed all the steps above, you can rest assured that you have planted the Amaryllis properly. Now you need to care for the plants while you wait for them to grow.

How to Care for The Bulbs

Amaryllis’s care is incomplete without caring for the bulbs. Before they have grown, bulbs are delicate. Therefore, you need to take good care of them. Here are some steps you can follow in order to do the same:

1. Make sure you check whether the soil is dry. When the top of the soil feels dry, water it while allowing it to drain freely to avoid excess water.
2. Remember that the plant should not be in the water. It will make the roots rot and cause pest infestation, and make Amaryllis care difficult.
3. You can use a fertiliser every time you water the plant. You can use Aquarium plant fertiliser for better results. However, you need to use only half the amount that is recommended on the packaging. Fertilisers with high phosphorus content yield the best results.
4. Once the flowering starts, you need to remove the plants from direct sunlight. However, do not keep them in an area where the Sun’s rays do not reach them at all. They still need sunlight indirectly.

After-Flowering Care of Amaryllis Plant

One of the most neglected parts of Amaryllis care is the care after flowering. Once the flowers have appeared, people tend to take it easy. However, if the plant is taken care of at this stage, it will thrive for many years.

1. Keep an eye on when the flowers are fading. Once you notice the flowers have faded, you must cut them off. It will prevent the formation of seeds. You need to do this as seed formation consumes a lot of plant energy. As a result, they will not flower properly afterwards.
2. Ensure you do not remove the stalk until it is yellow. It is because green stems have a pigment called chlorophyll. It allows them to continue the process of photosynthesis. As a result, the plant gets adequate amounts of energy.
3. Once the flowering period is over, you must place the plant directly under sunlight again. It will help the plant form long leaves, which would aid in storing energy. It would, in turn, help with blooming the next season.

Selecting the Bulbs of Amaryllis Plant

One of the most important steps when growing Amaryllis is selecting the right bulb. It is like ensuring the right foundation before you build a house. There are different varieties of Amaryllis plants. The following are the main types:

1. Dancing Queen

Dancing Queen has an attractive petticoat form with four to five layers of colourful red and white striped petals. As happy as a child’s sparkler, this is sure to swift a smile every time you look at them. These gorgeous plants are 20 to 22 inches tall. They produce flowers that are about nine inches on 2-3 stems.

2. Double Dragon

This beautiful Double Dragon Amaryllis is lovely and easy to grow for professionals and beginners alike. It has pleasant wide petals and will be a cheerful addition to your holiday decoration. They are bright and look fiery. It has two stalks, each of which has four flowers. They reach a height of about 24 inches.

3. Double Dream

Double Dream is a full, ruffly double with rose-pink petals randomly tipped in white and in perfectly sculpted form. This variety has pink flowers ending in white tips spread around 8 inches. Each stalk can be up to 25 inches and supports four to six flowers. It’s a perfect bulb-in-a-bag for holiday gift-giving!

4. Half and Half

Amaryllis ‘Half & Half’ has big buds that are coral-red on the upper half of the flower and green and cream on the lower half. These flowers truly stand out. This variety originated in Israel. It has some petals that are bright red and others that are cream. There are two to three stems, each with about 6 flowers.

5. Minerva

The Minerva Amaryllis is an outstanding beauty with its large red flower that has a white star centre and a lime green throat. These are beautiful bright red flowers with stripes of white. They have one or two stems that form three or four flowers. These stems are about 24 inches in height.

Things to Keep in Mind to Select the Best Bulb

Once you have picked the variety you like, you must take care of the bulb you select. The size of the bulb will directly influence how the plant performs and the time you have to spend on Amaryllis care. Hence, you can keep the following points in mind to select the best bulb:

1. Ensure you select the largest bulb available irrespective of the variety. Large bulbs are capable of producing more stems and more flowers. It is so even in the first year of blooming.
2. The bulbs that you select must be firm, like Alasines Amaryllis Bulbs. Also, they should be dry and should not have any signs of mould or injury. You will not get healthy flowers if it has any signs of decay. Worse yet, you might not get any flowers at all.
3. Sometimes, you might see some growth in the bulbs. You should remember that this is completely normal. You can pick these bulbs if they fit the other criteria. Make sure that the growth does not have any signs of damage.
4. Some bulbs you see may have offshoots growing from them. You might not find this desirable, although it is normal too. If you find such bulbs, you need not worry. These offshoots can be removed easily and do not hinder Amaryllis carebest practices.

Problems that You Might Face

During Amaryllis care, you might face the problem of pests and diseases. Several insects may be dangerous to the amaryllis plant. Here are some of the common ones:

Overwatering

One of the most common reasons for problems that you may encounter with Amaryllis is overwatering. No matter where you grow them, ensure to use only properly-drained soil. Never plant your Amaryllis in the soggy soil as it may cause damage. Consistent wet roots will eventually lead to root and bulb rots. After that, it is impossible to save the plant.

Narcissus Fly

These flies may lay their eggs inside the bulbs of the amaryllis plant. It does not usually happen to plants that grow indoors. Once they infest the plants, they may become yellow and wilted. On the external surface, the bulbs might seem to be completely normal. However, you can see the rotten tissue when you press the bulbs. Eventually, these plants die from the infestation. The only thing you can do to control the infestation is to destroy the affected bulbs. It is because the use of insecticides is ineffective.

Red Blotch

It is a fungus that makes Amaryllis care complicated. It affects the health of the plant. However, it does not kill the plant. In addition, it is difficult to diagnose – the only symptom is the appearance of red spots, which can be confused with the spots on a healthy bulb. Here are some steps you can take to avoid this:

1. Buy healthy bulbs to start with
2. Ensure that the soil you plant them in is sterile
3. Use fungicides from time to time.
4. Clean the infected parts with alcohol so the disease does not spread.

Regarding diseases and Amaryllis care, prevention is better than cure. Hence, following the steps mentioned above is better than trying to contain the infection.

Summing It Up

All in all, the first step towards Amaryllis care is to ensure you buy the right bulb first. Once you have laid the right foundation, producing the results you intend is easy. Besides buying a healthy bulb like Picasso Amaryllis, you must ensure you are buying the biggest possible bulb. The next step is to place the bulb in a well-drained container along with the right soil with enough nutrients.

Now all you have to do is to wait for the flowers. Once the flowers are formed, you have to take care of all the tips mentioned so that you get a good yield the next season. Remember to cut off the faded flowers so that the plant does not waste its energy in forming seeds.

Which of our tips surprised you the most, or which one do you think would be most useful? Let us know in the comments below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if The Plant Has only Leaves and No Flowers?

When you notice the plants have no flowers and only leaves, it indicates that the gardener did not take proper care of the bulb. However, there is no need to worry. Often, some of these plants sprout leaves before flowers. On the other hand, some send flowers first. If you face this situation, all you have to do is to be patient. You will notice flowers coming up soon.

What if My Plant Gets Infected?

It is a common issue with the Amaryllis planting. The best thing to do if your plant gets infected is first to recognise the infection. If it is difficult to control, your only option is to destroy the infected bulb. Otherwise, you can use insecticides or fungicides, as the case may be. You can also dig up the bulb and then remove every diseased part from the plant.

How Many Flowers Will I Get from My Bulb?

The number of flowers a bulb will produce depends on the variety. However, the general rule of thumb is that the larger the bulb, the more flowers you get. Hence, if you hope to see many flowers, pick large, healthy bulbs. However, usually, the Amaryllis bulb has one, two, or three stalks. And every bulb may have 2 to 5 blooms depending on its type.

How Long Should I Wait Before Cutting the Faded Flowers Off?

You should not wait at all. Removing dead flowers at the right time is necessary. So, assoon as you see faded flowers, you should cut the whole stem off. This way, you would also see many flowers bloom the next season. But, you need to keep the yellow leaves as they will provide the bulbs with proper nutrients, which further help them to rebloom in the next year.