How to Grow Amaryllis Flowers (Hippeastrum)

By Matt Gibson and Erin Marissa Russell

The massive blooms of the amaryllis flower are aboriginal to the tropical climate of Central and South America , and are the termination of the thrifty training of hybrids by crossbreeding several plants from the Hippeastrum genus . These plant are acknowledge for their long , strap - like leave and large , exotic , trumpet - lily mould flowers that flower in shades of red , orangish , white , pink , and Salmon River at the top of each stalk . Some amaryllis species produce flowers with multicolored , stripy , or recognise design , usually in various combination of white , reddish , and pinkish .

The cosmetic plant is democratic both for its fabulous flowers , and for how easy it is to mature successfully . There are very few prospects in the garden that are more exciting than an amaryllis bud that is yet to open up for all to see . The blossoms can be single or double , and are simply huge , time in anywhere between four and ten inches across , depending on the cultivar .

amaryllis flowers

It is quite easy to get amaryllis flowers to flower when you want them to , even during the wintertime prison term , which is one of the main reasons why they have become a vacation fixture in late years , like the poinsettia , and the christmas cactus . Due to their festal blanched and red blooms which are of course paired with average - green foliation , the amaryllis plant is quite just , the utter christmas decoration .

Amaryllis plants grow between one and two feet improbable with a nine to 12 in base . Hardy to USDA zones eight to ten . If you hold up in one of these zones , you may plant your amaryllis directly in the garden . If you experience outside these mood , you may raise amaryllis in your home , or in a climate controlled greenhouse .

Varieties of Amaryllis

The many dissimilar varieties of amaryllis present a wide selection of efflorescence colors and designs , with some contain multiple color , stripes , and point . Some cultivars raise unmarried flower , while others propose double . With over 500 varieties to sort through , choosing which amaryllis to produce can be a hard conclusion , because it ’s basically a beauty contest between the different flowerheads available , and so many of them are too lovely to pass up on . It may be just as hard determine which one ’s not to grow than which to grow . But , no matter how difficult , determination must eventually be made . Here ’s 21 of our darling to help you narrow down the list :

Alfresco – A two-fold - blooming potpourri with pure white flowers with granny - Kate Smith orchard apple tree dark-green centers . grow to a summit of about 2 foot marvellous .

Amputo – Light , but pleasantly - mellifluous , white , lily - like blossom embellish this extremely - coveted cultivar . At maturity date , the Amputo amaryllis stands between 17 inches and two feet tall .

striped hippeastrum with text overlay how to grow amaryllis flowers hippeastrum

Apple Blossom – Perched atop one and a half to two foot halt , the Apple Blossom amaryllis flower brain is snowy with pink bar and a pale unripe center . study a delicate smorgasbord .

Black Pearl – There is nothing particularly black about the deep maroon blossom of the Black Pearl cultivar . grow nearly two invertebrate foot high , the peak ’s silky - textured petals make it await strange in the sunlight .

Chico – The odd , beautiful , but rather forbidding , wanderer - alike blooms of the Chico varietal wine , make it one of the most distinctive cultivars useable . Just under 20 - in - root expose the eerie green and fuchsia bloom .

Clown – The Clown is one of the most beautiful amaryllis blooms usable . It exhibit a white flower that looks as if it was painted with red stripes with quick , haphazard brush strokes , and a green kernel , giving it every christmas colouring simultaneously , in just the bloom itself , which sit atop about two - foot - marvellous stems .

Emerald – Both elegant and eccentric , the Emerald variety of amaryllis is a piece of work of art on a stem . The frilled white - green peak petals are highlighted by red edging . The efflorescence breathe on stems that grow 15 to 18 inches high . Exotic Star – At just under two feet in height , the Exotic Star shows off the reason why it get its name . It is a garden star , to be sure , and the white , raspberry - striped , hotshot - determine blooms it create , are a sight for sore oculus .

Fairy Tale – The curt but stunning Fairy Tale cultivar produces a white and red - veined flush that ’s beaut more than make up for the variety ’s brusk stature .

Faro – This plant has delicate , salmon pink and blank flowers , which are much small than the majority of amaryllis flower head .

Green Goddess – This variety ’s white lily - similar flowers have gullible center and are minor , and more dainty than most amaryllis bloom . The Green Goddess industrial plant grows to about 17 in gamy . Ice Queen – The efflorescence of the Ice Queen cultivar are recognise by strange , spider - like double-dyed - white flower petal paint with greenish .

Matterhorn – If you want a predominately blanched amaryllis cultivar , Matterhorn ’s large , arrant - white flowers colored with yellow - green throats stand out from the ingroup .

Monaco – The Monaco cultivar ’s heyday have confect - orchard apple tree red petals with blanched and green centers

Mont Blanc – Another large flower head with white petals and green centers , the mavin - shaped blooms on the Mont Blanc cultivar rest nearly two feet eminent .

Papilio – Most amaryllis flowers are held up by a undivided bow . The Papilio cultivar ’s flushed and blanched - veined blooms are instead defy up by several stems , which reach about 20 inches high . Red Lion – Growing near two feet mellow , the large , eye - catching deep - red heyday of the Red Lion change are weigh show - stoppers .

Royal Velvet – The velvety - textured , dark - red flush of the Royal Velvet variety pose atop the 20 in high spike .

Samba – The 20 in tall Samba cultivar produces self-aggrandizing , smart - red , frilled flowers that have white grading and edge .

Sumatra – Sumatra ’s double blooms are distinguished by its slender peach - green petals and apple - green throat . reach two - feet at maturity .

Summertime – This variety is known for its monolithic seven - inch blooms and their rare garden pink to deep rose - emblazon flower petal with green shopping center .

Growing Conditions for Amaryllis

Amaryllis thrives in full Sunday to fond tincture location . If you are growing the flower alfresco , the good choice is a spot with vivid specter and a well - draining , alimental fertile soil . If you are growing amaryllis in planters kept indoors , they will value sunrise sun exposure , shiny afternoon shade , and a mellow - quality , well - draining potting mix . As a tropical flora , the amaryllis is fond to warm , humid environments . outside , they grow well in zona eight , and in zone seven , they can be overwintered in their beds if provide with a thick mulch level for added insulation .

The bulbs are just as loose to mature indoors as they are in the garden , as long as you live in the right climate . They make heavy outdoor plants as well , thriving in bed , borders , and containers likewise . Amaryllis plants look stunning when planted in groups , but they can also be spread out randomly in naturalise areas . You should n’t have too much trouble with foragers , as amaryllis bulb are rodent and deer resistant .

How to Plant Amaryllis

To get amaryllis bulbs ready to plant , soak the theme of the medulla oblongata and the roots in tepid water for two to three 60 minutes . If you ca n’t plant them as soon as you get them , remember to keep them in cool temperatures until planting time , ideally between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit .

Being very careful not to hurt the roots , lightly plant your medulla into a nutrient - rich potting compost . You should be able-bodied to obtain a pre - interracial potting compost at a nursery or garden shopping centre if you do n’t make your own compost at home . Tamp the soil down steadfastly by hand to arrange the bulb into piazza right after planting .

Because heat is needed for shank development , you will ask to plant the medulla oblongata , or place your planter in a warm localisation with a direct low-cal source . Provide temperatures as close to 68 or 70 degrees F as potential and water occasionally until the stem sprouts up . Once the bud and leaf begin to appear , increase waterings . Soon , the stem will develop quickly and flowers will begin to grow after the stem finish develop .

New bulbs should be plant with the quietus of your spring blooming ornamentals , during fall . If you corrupt , or were grant youthful amaryllis plants , they should be moved outside during the springtime once threats of Robert Frost have passed . look until blooming ending , then bit by bit start to indurate them off , introducing them to their Modern home base over the course of a hebdomad , increasing the amount of prison term spent outside each day .

Care for Amaryllis

Provide your amaryllis water when the top two inches of soil are dry to the touch . Just after inflorescence , end lachrymation so that the plant can savour a juiceless break to reset bulbs for upcoming blooms . manipulate the watering agenda is a enceinte part of pull the flower into seasonal bloom , which we will in further detail below .

Feed your amaryllis every two to three weeks with a half - intensity water - soluble fertilizer . Withhold nutrient after flowering to help hasten dormancy for bulb resetting . When the flower melt back , thin the stalk back just above the incandescent lamp . Continue irrigate until the plant goes dormant in autumn . Feel free to move your plants to a part - nicety locating outdoors during the summer .

For out-of-door amaryllis , provender at least once upon take care new growth in the early spring , though additional feedings can be give using a balance fertilizer during the growing time of year . Keep your works moist throughout the season , though they are fairly drouth tolerant if you forget a watering or two . Once they are moved outside , amaryllis bulbs revert back to their innate cycle , blossom in the spring . Once blossom melt , dilute back the chaff and relish the foliage through the summertime . The plant will succumb to the fall Frost and will sprout back in the following spring .

sum up a 2 in mulch bed to amend moisture memory , reduce grass and protect the plant ’s roots from cold weather condition weather . If provide with adequate precaution , you will see blooms every twelvemonth . Once found , amaryllis does n’t need much aid . When works get overcrowded , split up the cluster and disjoined . encouragement blooms with pearl meal or a blooming - boosting fertilizer treatment .

For indoor amaryllis container horticulture , medulla will flower seven to ten workweek after plant . The wintertime will have farseeing rosiness period than the give , so keep this in mind when you determine on your planting agenda between October and April . If you want uninterrupted blooms , industrial plant bulbs at 2 hebdomad intervals .

Once the amaryllis stops flowering , it can be forced into a second beat of blooms by cutting the old heyday from the prow and cut the shank back to the top of the light bulb as it take up to sag . Continue to water and provide plant food throughout the summer as you ordinarily would , at least until the leaves fully acquire . When farewell start to yellowness in the early fall , make out them back to two inches from the bulb ’s top and remove the light bulb from the ground .

strip the medulla oblongata by brushing off any extra dirt with a dry washcloth . entrepot in a coolheaded , saturnine location around 40 to 50 degrees fluorine , like the crisper drawer of your icebox for at least six weeks . Do not salt away amaryllis bulbs in the electric refrigerator if you also have apples stored there , as the apples will sterilise the lightbulb . After the six weeks have pass , pull the bulbs out and plant them wherever you care .

4 Ways to Manage Amaryllis Blooms

When planting amaryllis bulbs , set them in a Mary Jane 10 to 12 weeks prior to the time you want them to begin blossom . Using a high - quality potting intermixture with sizable drainage , plant amaryllis bulbs keeping the top one - third of the bulb above the land .

occupy in the remainder of the pot with more potting commixture and stake the planter with a bamboo stalk buried just next to the bulb . Amaryllis flowers are know for spring up top - heavy . couch your support bracing in place betimes will keep you from damaging the root and bulb when you stake it into the soil at a belated engagement .

Keep the bulb planter in a lustrous spot with indirect sunshine , and water well to render a steady moisture stage in the grime , keeping it damp at all times , but not to a fault wet . A thickset bloom stalk should maturate within two to three calendar week . The flat foliage of the plant will number next as the stalk matures . Every few day , change state the pot so that the flower still hunt gets a good amount of sun on all sides and get straight , instead of leaning to render to face up the sun .

To make your amaryllis bring forth bloom during the holiday season , cut the flower stalk back after the flower season enfold up but let the leaves keep develop . Move the planter out of doors for the summertime and keep it in a partial specter location . Keep the soil slightly moist , but never marshy or wet .

Discontinue feed in August . In September or October , when you normally drag plants indoors for winter storage , drag your amaryllis to a cool , wry location and discontinue watering . The farewell will be in the process of dying back . If you require blooms at a specific time during the vacation , like on Christmas , or Thanksgiving Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , just matter rearwards about 10 to 12 workweek from the bloom daytime to find out when to blockade watering your amaryllis .

The want of leave and the waterless period will make the plant mail out a second flower chaff . When the second stubble goes up , get down issue weewee again , and relocate the plantation owner to a warm , cheery placement . You should begin seeing leaves in no fourth dimension , and blooming will follow lawsuit . After the peak die back naturally , start the whole appendage over again from the beginning , cutting the flower chaff back after the blooming time of year is arrant , but allowing the leaves to carry on to grow .

To encourage your potted flower to re - blossom , cut the efflorescence stalk off after initial inflorescence stops but let the leaves keep growing as long as possible . Keep the plantation owner in bright light , whether outside or in , and keep the soil in the planter slightly moist , but not soggy , or wet .

Discontinue feeding in August and play it inside before the Robert Lee Frost come . send the planter in a cool locating with bright , indirect twinkle . Foliage will begin to turn yellowish and fall off near December . Keep up veritable watering and new flower stalks will sprout up in a calendar month or two .

When new flower stalks generate , resume feeding and move the plant into verbatim sunlight . leave will sprout next , then blossom buds will appear . Once these flowers fade , it ’s time to re-start the cycle . Allowing reblooming will help the plant grow larger and produce more bloom .

Amaryllis medulla oblongata are hardy to zone eight through ten , and can be plant instantly into the garden in those zones . If your garden is in a frost - barren climate , plant your amaryllis bulbs with their cervix just at , or just above ground storey . In field prone to frosts , give the bulbs five to six estimable inches of soil above them for insulant and an additional five to six inches of organic mulch on top of the soil for even more detachment to keep them protect from the expected freezing . weewee deeply just after planting to serve plant adjust to their new environment . After first watering , only provide water once the top two inches of soil have dry out out .

When the plant start out to farm new leave , run it with a balanced fertiliser , and refeed once per calendar month until April . Amaryllis typically flowers in March , April , and May . When unfolding cease , remove the chaff but reserve the leaves to keep get . Cut off any farewell that turn sensationalistic as you notice them . From the month of June until September , water only during especially dry periods in which the works is receiving no rainfall . In autumn put down a stratum of winter mulch if you expect frost . Amaryllis usually live on into dormancy during the wintertime .

How to Propagate Amaryllis

multiplication of Amaryllis is very dim-witted . The bulbs will bring on side medulla oblongata just like Narcissus pseudonarcissus , which can be carefully removed and pot in separate container to supply additional plant . Allow the plant several time of year before expecting flowers , as the flora can take several years before maturing enough to start producing peak .

Garden Pests and Diseases of Amaryllis

When amaryllis industrial plant are elevate in greenhouses , they tend to divvy up with more plant diseases and dirt ball plague than when they grow outside the nursery in gardens or rest home . The amaryllis bloom you buy at nursery and garden centers will almost always have been raised in a greenhouse , so before insert a unexampled amaryllis to your collection , give the industrial plant a good once - over tomake indisputable it is healthy before make your leverage . Inspect bulb for planetary house of bugs or malady when you buy them , too . Below you ’ll detect basic information on the pests and diseases a gardener of amaryllis should be intimate with .

Aphids & Other Phloem Feeders : Phloem feeder , such as aphid , mealybugs , and spider pinch , sustain themselves by feasting on the leaves of amaryllis plants . If left untreated , aphids and mealy bug can cause yellowing and wilt , as well as a downslope in plant vigor . If you notice pitchy mold growth or the presence of ants on your amaryllis plants , it could stand for you have aphid or mealybug infestations on your hands . yellowish foliage stippling is a sign of wanderer mite . Remove aphid , mealybugs , and pinch from your plants by blast them with a forceful spray of water from the garden hose . reiterate this souse as many clip as is necessary to disembarrass the plants of all petite flying bugs . If knock the pestilence off with water is n’t cutting the mustard , you might want to calculate into insecticidal scoop .

Bulb Mites : Though you may not find the equipment casualty that bulb mite are doing to your amaryllis at first , it does n’t mean it is n’t a problem . The midget , ellipse , wanderer - like creatures enter damaged amaryllis bulbs and provender on both damaged and intelligent medulla oblongata tissue paper likewise . Bulb mite often come with bacterial and fungous diseases . Stunted growth is a sign of bulb mite comportment . Prevent electric light hint by keeping works healthy with proper previsions and careful handling . There is no in force treatment choice for bulb mite other than prevention proficiency .

Chewing insect : Caterpillars and grasshoppers are both recognise to chew hole through the leafage and flower of the amaryllis plant . grasshoppers and caterpillars both be given to be present in gamey number when their natural predator ( such as parasitical wasps ) are not able to ascertain their populations . Insecticides for large population of grasshopper and caterpillar are a thriftlessness of metre in small garden scenarios . Instead , pick grasshoppers and caterpillars off your plant by hand and shed them into a bucket of saponaceous water system .

Fungus Gnats : These relative of the yield fly front are vernacular in gardens that stay too dampish due to poor drainage , excessive rain , or over lachrymation from the nurseryman . You may chance these flyspeck flying insects wherever organic materials are decomposing , such as in soggy soil , around bags of pot soil , ornear the compost atomic pile . They can specially be a challenge in indoor gardens , greenhouses , container gardens , nurseries , and greenhouses but are rare in the outdoor garen . If your garden is severely infested , you may see silvery , ugly track across the soil ’s surface in addition to spy the winged adult and snowy or clear larvae with black heads .

A normal amount of fungus gnat is more annoying than dangerous for plants , but when the population of these insect rise , the larva can damage plants they feed on by harm the root organization . Affected plant may have stunted increase or wilt leaf , especially young works and seedlings , and if the plague is especially severe , it can be fateful . do by a fungus gnat problemby correcting overly wet conditions . Gardeners should verify not to overwater and thin the amount of organic material in the grunge they are using to fix the matter .

Narcissus Bulb Fly : When amaryllis plant are kept outside during lovesome weather , sometimes a narcissus bulb fly will pick out the bulb as a spot to lay its eggs . Once the egg hatch , maggots emerge that will down the scale on the control surface of the bulb for nourishment , tunneling into the bulb ’s interior . A plant with narcissus bulb fly front will display symptom such as perverted , yellowed , or wilted foliage , and the infestation can eventually be black if left untreated . Infested electric light may look healthy , but if you squeeze or weightlift the outside of the light bulb , its grain will show that it has rotten tissue paper deep down . Narcissus bulb flies are difficult to chase after off , even with insect powder , once they take cargo area , so destroy infested bulbs as shortly as you’re able to — hopefully before the insects can scatter .

nematode worm : If your amaryllis begins to look hungry or depleted out of nowhere , it could be because the plants are infested with the tiny , wormlike pests have sex as nematode . Prevention is the most effective way to represent your plant against nematodes . Select disease resistant crops when possible and keep unhealthy plant life isolated . marigold establish nearby will aid to protect surrounding industrial plant and deter nematodes naturally .

Red Blotch / Leaf Scorch : This fungous disease triggered by Stagonospora curtisii is vernacular on amaryllis and is not normally fatal . Infected works have red lesion that finally form longer canker sores that have reddened edges . These spots tend to appear at the base of the efflorescence bow or on new leaf shoots . It can be difficult to differentiate this symptom from the pinkish or cherry areas you may see on sizable amaryllis bulbs . However , in hefty plants the tissue paper under the discolored sphere should be pallid and readable . Plants with red blotch may have distorted folio that grow larger and longer with recessed field . lessened foliage can allow flower stems to easily founder and founder .

Prevent red blotch in your garden by choose amaryllis bulb cautiously to choose those that do not have canker or other damaged area . employ novel potting soil every time you pot a industrial plant or graft it to a Modern container , and ensure your potting soil is sterile . uncontaminating and desexualize gardening tools such as pruners or post with itch alcohol before and after role as well as between every plant you work out with to head off spread diseases . Combined with right works fear , these safeguard are often sufficient to keep violent blotch at bay , but particularly unmanageable infections can be handle with a systemic antimycotic agent if ask .

Amaryllis is a gorgeous flower and a must - have for decorative gardeners who survive in the right zone . For those that live outside of the sweet spot for growing amaryllis outdoors , growing these blossom in the house will bestow colour and beauty , and can help decorate your rest home for the holiday like never before . If you have n’t grown amaryllis and matte the exhilaration of look the opening of their bursting buds , it ’s clip to change that .