Hippeastrumspp.
Amaryllis , Hippeastrumxhybridum , is not one specific case , but rather any one of hundreds of hybrids ofHippeastrumspecies in the Amaryllidaceae kinsfolk .
Suited to outdoor growing as a perennial inUSDA Hardiness Zones9 to 11 , this showy peak is often impel to bloom indoors in other zones .
An surpassing addition to winter holiday decor , the declamatory prime of amaryllis are trump - shape and perch atop leafless , hollow stanch that rise directly from a significant incandescent lamp .
Photo via Alamy.
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You ’ll find a mountain chain of available colors to take from , including shades of orange , pink , purple , red , ashen , and sensationalistic . Often the petals are variegated , and some eccentric are fragrant .
In this article , we discuss how to cultivate amaryllis indoors .
Here ’s what ’s in store :
What You’ll Learn
Do n’t be restrain by this dazzling flush . It ’s so easy to grow , you wo n’t believe it !
Cultivation and History
Amaryllis is generally purchased in a dormant state . It may be cultivated with a combination of indoor and outdoor placements , and by artificial means - induced sleeping , for year - to - twelvemonth enjoyment in stale regions , or it may be chuck out after blooming indoors .
Hippeastrumbulbs have a circumference of 10 to 14 inches . The larger the electric-light bulb , the more stems and flowers it will typically produce .
The stem , call scapes , are between one and two foot tall . There may be one to three flower stalk per bulb .
Each tumid prow outburst into full-bodied blooms with a diameter between four and 10 inches . They confront outward , like colorful sentries on sentry . There may be up to five efflorescence per stem .
There ’s a variety of hybrids to choose from , including multi - petal Nymphs , narrow - petal Cybisters , and butterfly - similar Papilios .
Strappy go away sprout directly from each bulb , and reach duration of up to three feet .
By definition , there is only one true amaryllis mintage , Amaryllis belladonna . Also known as the March or nude - lady lily , it ’s an outdoor industrial plant that blooms in the late summer in Zones 7 to 10 , and is aboriginal to South Africa . you may read more about growing it in our guide .
So , why do we callHippeastrumhybrids amaryllis ?
In the 1700s , Swedish botanist Charles Linneaus make theAmaryllisgenus to classifyA. belladonna , its only penis at the sentence .
In the 1800s , British phytologist William Herbert named lily - alike flower that resemble “ knight ’s stars”Hippeastrum , Latin for the description .
Over the years , both the individual South AfricanAmaryllisand multiple South AmericanHippeastrumspecies were all classified asAmaryllis .
It was n’t until modern times , in 1987 to be exact , that the fourteenth International Botanical Congress check that there are indeed two separate genera , AmaryllisandHippeastrum . And although the distinction has been made , we still callHippeastrumflowers amaryllis .
Propagation
There are four fashion to start this misname lily - comparable plant life : from seed , or via offset division , bulb re - sectioning , or micropropagation of explant cultures .
Let ’s count at what each entail for the nursing home gardener .
Seed
Not allHippeastrumplants bring forth viable seeds .
With fertile seed , however , starting a new plant is cost - efficient , if time consuming . From the prison term of sowing , the appearance of the first blossom may take two to five old age .
The trait of plant life propagated by fecund seed are likely to vary from those of the parent plant .
For more information ongrowing amaryllis from seminal fluid , see our guide .
Bulb
The easiest way to commence a plant is with a torpid bulb .
Both easy and pre - potted bulbs are available for indoor forcing , or outside sowing in warm areas .
Once dormancy is break , it take between six and eight weeks for flowering to occur .
Offset Division
Offsets are bulblets , or “ daughters , ” that grow alongside a large “ mother ” lightbulb . They are break aside from the mother to start new plants and reduce crowding .
The larger the counterbalance , the good , because they take from two to five eld to bloom , depending upon their size .
The best time to fraction is in late fall , but for those in warm region , it is also potential to divide in late winter .
Offset division bring forth plant with the same characteristics as a parent plant .
Bulb Re-Sectioning
A bulb can be dig up and cut into sections to produce novel plants . This is a vulgar commercial-grade practice , also know as twin grading .
The best prison term to do this is after a medulla has bloomed and grown foliation , but before the leaves fade and quiescence begins .
It ’s done by hit the chocolate-brown “ adventitia ” and divide the medulla like a pie , with multiple sections that each contain a bit of out scale and basal plate , the bottom where the roots are attached .
The division are cut and then treat with a antimycotic before being planted in a moist , sterile potting medium . Sections may begin to regrow in one to three months , but it may take two or more years before they flower .
take amaryllis offsets and bulb re - sectioning in our guide .
Micropropagation of Explant Cultures
The domain of scientists , this method acting of micropropagation involves taking samples of plant life tissue and growing them in a science laboratory . This method start the manipulation of traits at the genetic spirit level .
How to Grow
Purchase a dormant bulb in the fall . Do n’t be surprised if it has already sprouted in transit .
For pre - potted lightbulb , survey the enclosed direction .
Do n’t draw a blank to remove the bed of Spanish moss before water if there is one , so it does n’t soak up the water intended to saturate the pot medium . Replace it after watering , to promote moisture retentiveness .
When shopping , you are likely to come across wax - dip light bulb . They are unique in that they require no soil or water to bloom .
Each is a “ one - hit curiosity ” that probably wo n’t flower again , however , purveyors suggest there ’s no harm in remove the wax and giving it a attempt .
For something unique that will be used and tossed , such as company centerpiece , they are a novelty you might like to try .
And because they require no water , you may debar waxed incandescent lamp upside - down to amaze your guests with a graveness - defying showing !
Another bauble is the moss - wrapped bulb . Attractively ensconced in canvass moss that is secured by decorative wire , it requires a mere misting to sprout and bloom .
Potting a Loose Bulb for Forcing Indoors
To drive blooming indoors in wintertime , prefer a container with tolerable drainage hole and enough weight that your flora will not tip over .
If you have a sluttish pot , you may add stone to the bottom for light ballast .
The good deal diam should permit for two inches of space around the bulb on all incline , for a cosy paroxysm that allows room for lacrimation . And unlike many other plants , being rootbound is preferred .
If you bid to constitute more than one bulb in a container , keep in creative thinker that each works measure between six and 12 inches wide of the mark at maturity , bet upon the variety .
total agood quality potting mass medium , preferably a unimaginative mixture , to the container , and reconcile the bulb in so that one - third to one - one-half of the narrow “ neck ” part is above the surface . This aggrandisement inhibits rotting .
Press the filth down securely , and be certain its height is one inch below the pot rim , to allow for watering without overflowing .
After planting , irrigate the potting medium good .
Set the commode in bright sunshine , preferably in a placement that is between 75 and 80 ° F . The kitchen is in general a near place for sprouting . You may use a heat mat as ask , to maintain an even temperature .
go around the pot a quarter turn day by day to encourage just root growth , as it will tend to tip towards the light .
Keep the potting medium good moist until you see the first sprout .
Thereafter , water when the top few column inch feel wry , but before the pot dries out entirely .
If your electric light was already sprout when you got it , proceed with watering when the top few inches of the potting medium feel juiceless .
When the first bud appears , move the plant into collateral , but bright sun .
After blossom for four to six weeks , if you design to keep your amaryllis to rebloom the next class , cut off spent flower stem to make way of life for a proliferation of foliage .
go on to water slenderly , now allowing the pot to dry out before watering again .
There ’s another way to jackpot a bulb for force indoors , and that ’s by placing it on a single layer of pebbles in a deoxyephedrine container with urine up to its neck , instead of pot metier .
It ’s a novel glide slope you may want to try .
Find more steer on forcing amaryllis lightbulb here .
Transitioning to the Outdoors in Spring
Though many people take to toss their vacation amaryllis , you could keep it uprise for beautiful efflorescence in years to fare !
In the saltation , after the last icing date for your region , you may move the pot outside , or engraft the bulb directly into the garden soil in all temperate zones .
Some ethnic music wish to sink the entire Mary Jane into the land , leaving the lip above the dirt surface , for easy retrieval after . And some gardeners even go so far as to wrap the pot in a gauzy material first to deter crawling pests .
Other citizenry prefer to keep their plants indoors .
The idealistic placement is in a locating that gets full sunlight to part shade .
At this time , you may sum an evenly balanced plant food , such as a 6 - 6 - 6 or 10 - 10 - 10 ( NPK ) product , to promote foliar growth , which in turn nourishes next class ’s flowers .
Learn more about originate amaryllis outside in our full guide .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
This is a low - maintenance plant life .
While the scape are unremarkably self - support , those that have stretched sideways to reach for sunlightmay call for post .
you may buy decorative amaryllis musical accompaniment stake , such as these from the Easy to Grow Store , available via Amazon .
Amaryllis Support Stakes
Repot as neededevery few days to keep bulbs snug . Divide as desired by removing large offsets to plant elsewhere .
For outdoor plants and those you want to rebloom , fertilize each springwith a well - balanced plant food . In warm part , you may also fertilize during the farm time of year , per software package pedagogy .
Continue to irrigate slenderly after efflorescence , and take away spend scapes to curb pests and disease , and encourage foliar growth . We have more tips on post - bloom care here .
In cold regions , you may dig up lightbulb to bring indoors for reblooming . Unlike many bulbs , they call for no chilling to growand blossom .
water parting offsets as desire in later fall , or in late wintertime in tender locales .
Cultivars to Select
There are hundreds of cultivated hybrid available each fall for forcing indoors , or implant alfresco in Zones 9 to 11 .
Here are some of my favourite selection to whet your appetence :
Flamenco Queen
You ’ll squall , “ Ole ! ” when you see the luscious reddened and cream blooms of ‘ Flamenco Queen . ’ Bold and zesty , she ’ll dance her fashion into your heart .
gravid medulla bring on two stems and four to five blossoms .
‘ Flamenco Queen ’
Find ‘ Flamenco Queen ’ bulbsavailable from Burpee .
Browse all of Burpee ’s amaryllis choice here .
Grand Diva
Bright and jolly , ‘ Grand Diva ’ is the paradigm of Christmas amaryllis ne plus ultra . Saturated deep red flower petal are the perfect demarcation to the evergreen of the season .
‘ Grand Diva ’
Find ‘ Grand Diva ’ bulbsavailable from Burpee .
Red Waxed Bulbs
you could also chance red - blooming waxed amaryllis bulbsavailable from Eden Brothers .
Wax colors are available in a variety of manner , and flowers are of an unspecified reddened variety . A wire base allows the wax bulb to be set on any flat control surface – no need for a pot !
Moss - Wrapped Bulb
Moss - wrapped bulbs with blanched efflorescence areavailable from Gardener ’s Supply .
Each medulla is case in a layer of unripe shroud moss and wrapped in copper wire , for a refreshingly down-to-earth display .
You will also discover afine selection of bulbs from the kinsfolk at Burpee .
And for even more exciting mixture , with challenging names like ‘ Cherry Nymph , ’ ‘ Half and Half , ’ and ‘ Purple Rain , ’ see our article,17 Awesome Amaryllis Varieties to produce Indoors or Out .
Managing Pests and Disease
The good ways to avoid any issues withHippeastrumhybrids is by starting with high - lineament sizable plants . After you ’ve gotten them dwelling , do not overwater them .
Indoor growing reduce exposure to insects and transmission , providedyour other houseplantsare sound , and the potting metier that you use ( or that your plants amount in ) is sterile .
For diminished infestations of fool - draw pestilence likemealybugsandspider mites , you may be capable to wash them off with a steady stream of water . For a expectant - weighing machine infestation , you may demand to apply an insecticidal Georgia home boy or neem oil .
Fungus gnat larvaefeed below the soil and cause foliar malformation . Neem oil is the solution here , as well , and can guide off disease spread out by unseasoned nymphs , such as wilt disease and blight .
unwashed diseases let in red blotch andsoft bulb rot .
violent blotch appears as rusty bandage on foliage that often progress to the point of plant collapse . With proper sunlight and tearing , it can be avoided . Discard strike plants .
Southern blight is a fungal infection that can occur in oversaturated land . Read more about it in our guide .
Best Uses
For those of us in cool regions , forcing flowering indoors is a wonderful way to experience the dish of amaryllis .
Whether you choose waxed , moss - plow , pre - potted , or slack electric light to plant yourself in water or unimaginative potting medium , they ’re a sumptuous addition to wintertime decor . fashionable and reverence - inspiring , vacation visitor are certain to want one of their own .
And why not ?
If you’relooking for the perfect giftfor family and friend of all historic period and sex , who celebrate a potpourri of holiday , and who may be nurseryman or not , it ’s the gross selection .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Herald of the Season
I advance you to cultivate this flowering lightbulb .
Until my family unit received one as a gift , I ’d actually never seen an amaryllis up close before .
One look at the enormous brown bulb cuddle in rich , dark potting medium , covered in Spanish moss , and I was connive .
And when creamy white-hot flowers with pinkish blushing edges the size of my paw shot out of the top of the single prow as tight as Jack ’s beanstalk , I love I had a new favorite .
My tropical hoarded wealth grew lush , leathery leafage when I plant it out in the M after it bloomed . alas , I did n’t know at the time that my zona was incompatible towintering over , and I lost it .
Gardening is a gamble , even with ample knowledge and idealistic context . But armed with the steer described here , I ’m sure-footed that yours will thrive .
Choose bold reds and superb white to complement winter seasonal interior decoration .
In warm clime , choose from an array of bright oranges to subtle refinement of peach for a warm or cool give garden schema planted outside .
Winter or spring , the statuesque scapes and bold trumpets are indisputable to proclaim its arriver with a striking brandish !
For moretips on manage for these beautiful plants , check out these guides next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Orginally published November 22 , 2020 . Last update : October 19 , 2022 . Product photos via Burpee , Eden Brothers , Easy to acquire Store , and Gardener ’s Supply Company . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Nan Schiller
