 AMARYLLIS
A glorious holiday treat!
by RANDY ROGERS
Thomas
Jefferson
once wrote, “Bulbs are
surely
man’s best
defense against
the winter.”
For anyone
who has had
the pleasure of
observing the
emergence of an
amaryllis
bulb,
indoors or
in
the
garden,
these words still
ring true.
Amaryllis (amaryllis hippeastrum), the
giant flowering variety of this bulb, normally
grown in the Netherlands and sold during
the fall and early winter, is packaged as
holiday gifts. Red, white, pink, salmon and
variegated colors are available.
The amaryllis is characterized by clusters of three to four enormous lily-like flowers, three
to 10 inches in diameter, which are borne on
the top of leafless 9- to 18-inch stems. The
flower stalks grow at amazing speeds (usually
before the leaves appear), making them great
candidates for indoor entertainment and a
source of conversation.
Depending on the bulb’s condition, an
indoor potted bulb can be expected to bloom in
about two months. High-quality bulbs might
have two to four different blooming stalks
in succession.
 Amaryllis planted in the garden will likely do
best in rich soil with light shade and will bloom
when the daytime temperatures reach about 70
degrees. Because of their response to sunlight,
the bulbs will bloom at different time periods in
the garden depending on location. This can
result in an extended blooming period of the
mammoth blossoms. Bulbs continue to bloom
annually about the same time if fertilized with
an organic food.
All bulbs should be refrigerated
until planting time. For the garden, this
would be as soon as the first couple of
freezes have begun to cool the warm
earth (usually during the month of
December). Unknowing consumers in
the South frequently purchase bulbs
from local nurseries and garden centers
that have been shipped on an East
Coast time frame. This means that the
bulbs often suffer through cruel heat
extremes, which can sap the fleshy tissue
of its ability to successfully perform
at maximum.
The richness and fullness of the holidays
can be enhanced and extended
with these beautiful flowers, so let’s
hope Santa brings an amaryllis bulb to
your door. If not, stop by a local nursery
and give yourself the gift that will
continue to bring beauty for many
years to come.
 Potting an amaryllis to bloom indoors
• Select a clay or plastic container slightly larger than your
bulb (the bulbs don’t mind being a bit root bound).
• Place a one-inch to two-inch layer of clean gravel in the bottom
of the pot.
• Plant the bulb in rich potting mix with about 1/3 of the top
of the bulb showing.
• Firm the soil, and drench with water.
 • Hold for one to two weeks in low-light, cool area for root
development to begin.
• Place the container into bright sunlight, and begin watering
regularly when the soil feels dry to the touch.
• When the stalk begins to appear remove from the bright
sunlight into indirect bright light and feed monthly with mild organic houseplant fertilizer.
• When the flowers fade, cut the stems to two inches tall, and
set the pot in bright sunlight.
 • Do not remove leaves until they wither.
• Continue to maintain as a houseplant, fertilizing monthly, or
install in the garden, placing four inches of soil over the top
of the bulb.
Favorite varieties of amaryllis hybrids
Red Lion (enormous red).
Clown (variegated red and white.
 Appleblossom (variegated pink and white).
Beautiful Lady (salmon orange).
White Giant or Christmas Snow (clear white).
Photos courtesy of Blue Heron Designs
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