Amaryllis bulbs form beautiful, large flowers in winter to help remind us of the warmer weather to come. Amaryllis bulbs can also be grown for a number of years and will rebloom each year if you follow the right guidelines. If you have some saved amaryllis bulbs, now is the time of year to get your bulbs ready for blooming this winter. This will save you the expense of buying new bulbs each winter, unless, of course, you love amaryllis so much you want to expand the different types of flower colors, shapes, and sizes you have in the house. Here’s how to keep your amaryllis bulb growing well, starting with tasks to do after it blooms in winter.
- After the amaryllis has flowered, remove the flower stalk and let the leaves continue to grow. Place the bulb in a warm, sunny window, and keep the pot watered and lightly fertilized.
- In spring, after all danger of frost has passed, move the container outdoors into a part-sun location. A spot that gets morning sun is ideal, especially in warmer climates. Continue to water, and fertilize every other week with houseplant fertilizer.
- Let the amaryllis grow all summer. Some may even flower in late summer. Enjoy the show. The flowering won’t stop it from blooming again in winter.
- Come fall, slowly start to reduce watering. Before a frost, cut back the leaves, stop watering altogether, and move the bulb into a dark, unheated basement to rest for six weeks. Place the container on its side to drain any water that might still be in the soil.
- After the bulb has rested, transplant it into a new container filled with fresh potting soil. Plant so one-third of the bulb is above the soil line. Press the soil in tightly around the bulb.
- Move the container and bulb into a sunny window in a room with temperatures around 50 to 60 degrees F, and start watering. About six weeks later, your amaryllis should send up either just a flower stalk or a flower stalk and leaves.