The amaryllis is a popular bulb plant that produces showy trumpet-shaped blooms on tall stalks. With their brilliant colors and enormous flowers amaryllis make a stunning addition to any indoor space when grown as container plants. But how exactly should you care for amaryllis bulbs planted in pots?
In this complete guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about successfully growing amaryllis indoors, from choosing the right pot and soil to proper watering, sunlight needs, and post-bloom care. Follow these tips and you’ll have beautiful amaryllis flowers brightening up your home year after year.
Choosing an Amaryllis Bulb and Container
To start growing amaryllis indoors, you’ll first need to select a high-quality amaryllis bulb Look for large bulbs that are heavy for their size, with no mushy spots or mold. Good bulbs will produce multiple thick, healthy looking leaves and several flower stalks
For the container, choose a pot that is about 2-3 inches wider than the diameter of the bulb. Amaryllis bulbs can be planted singly in pots or grouped together in wider containers. Make sure the pot has drainage holes and use a potting mix formulated for bulbs, such as a peat-based mix amended with perlite for drainage.
Terra cotta and ceramic pots are recommended for amaryllis over plastic because they allow air flow to the bulb. Look for pots 6-8 inches wide for single bulbs or wider 10-12 inch containers if planting 2-3 amaryllis together.
Planting the Amaryllis Bulb
Once you’ve chosen your amaryllis bulb and an appropriate pot, it’s time to plant it up! Follow these simple steps:
-
Place a shallow layer of potting soil or pebbles in the bottom of the pot for drainage.
-
Set the bulb in the pot with the wider flat end facing down. The top 1/3 of the bulb should remain above the soil line.
-
Surround the bulb with more potting mix, firming it down gently with your hands to hold it upright. Leave about 1-2 inches between the soil and the pot rim.
-
Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom drainage holes. This will settle the soil around the bulb.
-
Place the potted amaryllis in a bright spot and wait for growth to begin!
Caring for Amaryllis Plants: Sunlight, Water, and Fertilizer
Once your amaryllis bulb is planted, proper care is vital for flowering success:
-
Sunlight: Place in a sunny south or west facing window. Rotating the pot daily encourages straight, even flower stalks. They thrive in very bright light, with some direct sun for part of the day.
-
Water: Water sparingly at first, just enough to keep the top inch of soil barely moist. After you see several inches of new growth, begin watering more thoroughly. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings.
-
Fertilizer: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks while actively growing and blooming. Dilute to half strength to avoid burning the roots.
-
Temperature: Keep in a room around 70°F. Avoid cold drafts and heating vents blowing directly on the leaves.
-
Humidity: Mist the leaves daily or place on a pebble tray. Bulbs may fail to flower if the air is too dry.
What to Do After Amaryllis Blooms Fade
Once your amaryllis plant finishes flowering, don’t discard the bulb! With proper care, you can get an amaryllis bulb to bloom again for many years. Here are the steps for post-bloom care:
-
Cut off the faded flower stalks once all blooms are gone. Leave the foliage in place.
-
Continue watering and fertilizing while the leaves actively grow. Place in bright light.
-
In late summer, reduce watering gradually. Allow the leaves to yellow and die back.
-
Stop watering completely and move the dormant bulb to a cool spot for 6-8 weeks.
-
After the rest period, cut off any dried leaves and repot in fresh soil if needed. Restart watering and move back to a sunny window to begin the process again!
With attentive care and optimal growing conditions, a quality amaryllis bulb can produce showy blooms year after year, even decades after the initial planting. Follow this indoor care guide and you’ll enjoy their colorful flowers season after season.
Troubleshooting Common Amaryllis Problems
If issues arise while growing amaryllis bulbs indoors, here are some quick tips to get your plant back to health:
-
Brown leaf tips – Usually caused by dry air. Increase humidity through misting.
-
Falling over – Stake taller flower stalks for support before they fall and snap.
-
Leggy growth – Give more direct sunlight for sturdier, compact growth habit.
-
No flowers – Bulb may not be mature enough to bloom. Ensure bright light and fertilizer to encourage flowering.
-
Small flowers – Can indicate a low quality bulb or lack of sunlight. Try a new bulb and move to a sunnier spot.
-
Bulb rots – Prevent soggy soil by watering properly and using a pot with drainage. Discard rotten bulbs immediately.
FAQs About Growing Amaryllis Indoors
-
Should I remove the bulb from the pot when dormant? Only if it’s crowded and needs more space to grow. Otherwise repotting annually is not necessary.
-
Where can I buy amaryllis bulbs? Big box stores, garden centers, online bulb retailers, and even grocery stores sell amaryllis bulbs in fall and early winter.
-
What colors do amaryllis flowers come in? Classic colors are red, pink, white, and orange, but many modern hybrids offer bi-color blooms, stripes, speckles, and shades like apricot, burgundy, peach and yellow.
-
Do amaryllis need to be repotted? About every 2-3 years as the bulb gets larger and crowded. Repot in the spring after flowering concludes.
Bring Dazzling Amaryllis Blooms Indoors with Proper Care
With large, tropical-looking flowers in vivid colors, amaryllis bulbs offer stunning winter and spring blooms indoors. By providing the right potting mix, ample sunlight, moderate water and humidity, and fertilizer while growing, you can maintain amaryllis year after year for countless future blooms. Amaryllis bulbs are easy to grow in pots and will brighten up any living space when their flowers open up to reveal those vibrant trumpets!
Non-Stop Blooms: Make The Most Of Your Amaryllis
Plant Multiple Varieties
Most amaryllis will bloom 6 to 12 weeks after planting, but the time varies for different amaryllis varieties. Plant several varieties for a long season of bloom!
While youre waiting to plant, store your amaryllis bulbs in a cool (40-50°F), dry, dark place. (Not the refrigerator; its too cold.) Dont worry if the bulbs begin to sprout a little; just take care not to damage the emerging shoots.
Plant Amaryllis bulbs every week or two, for one to two months. That way, bulbs will be in different stages of growth for non-stop blooms that brighten your home all winter season.
While its best to grow amaryllis at room temperature, you can vary the growth rate by modifying the temperature slightly. Once the flower stalk is formed, you can slow its growth by placing the plant in a room thats a bit cooler (55° to 60°F) or speed its growth with warmer temperatures (75° to 80° F).
Once your Amaryllis is in full bloom, keep it looking its best by keeping it at cool room temperature and out of direct sunlight. If its on display in a warm room, just put it in a cool place (55° to 60°F) at night. Remove spent blooms after they fade. Watch for additional flower shoots, which sometimes appear as the first flowers fade.
Tip: Amaryllis make thoughtful gifts! Consider potting up some Amaryllis Growing Kits so theyre near bloom, or blooming, in time for holiday gift-giving.
Getting Started Planting Amaryllis
- When your bulbs arrive, open the box right away and check the contents.
- Our Amaryllis Growing Kits include soil and a pot, so you can easily plant right away.
- If youve ordered Amaryllis Bulbs only, choose a heavy, standard size flower pot, so the large bulb has approximately 1” around the sides and at the bottom. Amaryllis bulbs are the size of a very large onion (or larger), but they like to be somewhat crowded in their pots. Be sure it has drainage holes so excess water can drain, and add saucer to catch the runoff.
- Amaryllis do not need specific soil, however, we suggest using quick-draining soil, or a mixture of soil, peat, and perlite. Do not use pine bark, as it may encourage rot.
- Place one to two inches of moist potting soil in the bottom of the pot.
- Plant the bulb with its “shoulders above the soil,” so the top inch or so sticks up out of the soil. Fill in around the bulb with potting soil, firming it gently. Water just enough to fully moisten and settle the soil.
- When first planted, place the pot in a sunny window, and add “bottom heat” if possible. (Many people do this by placing the pot on a radiator).
- You can expect to see blooms in 6-12 weeks after planting. Your amaryllis will produce spectacular flowers with minimal care.
- Water very sparingly until the sprout is well out of the bulb. Once the sprout appears, water lightly when the soil is dry. Do not overwater, as this is the quickest way to kill Amaryllis.
- Turn the pot regularly to encourage the stalk to grow straight. Flower stalks have a tendency to bend to grow toward the light.
- Once the bulb is flowering, it is best to move the plant out of direct sunlight. Your bulb will produce several flowers on each stalk, and most will grow multiple stalks. Remove each flower as it fades.
