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Purdue University
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Purdue University
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Released: 12-18-97
B. Rosie Lerner
Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist
If you're shopping for a striking gift for that special gardener, the amaryllis may be just what you're looking for. The amaryllis is a tender bulb that can't survive outdoors even in the mildest Indiana winters. But it can be grown indoors to provide a dramatic show of color during dreary winter months.
The showy flowers range from crimson, scarlet, rose, lavender, white or bi-colored combinations. Although each plant may only produce one cluster of two to four blooms, individual blossoms can reach up to 8 inches in diameter at their peak. The flowers are borne on a tall, stout stem about 2 feet tall.
If you want the plant to be in bloom in time for the holiday, buy one that is already in bud or just beginning to flower. The blooms will last longer if you keep the plant in a cool location, around 65 degrees F. If kept in warmer environments, the flower stalks may become weak and require staking to support the weight of the blossoms.
If you opt instead for an amaryllis bulb kit, you just might have blooms in time for Valentine's Day! Bulbs should be potted containers that are only a little larger in diameter than the bulbs themselves. Be sure containers provide drainage so excess water can escape. Pour a layer of good-quality potting soil mix into the bottom of the container, then place the bulb so that the pointed end is facing up. Water thoroughly to establish good bulb-to-soil contact. Then place in a sunny windowsill in a cool location, preferably, 55-65 degrees F. The plants should bloom within six to eight weeks.
After the flower fades, you can cut the flower stalk off. However, the plant's health is important to consider now if reblooming is desired. Water and fertilize as you would other houseplants and place near a sunny window.
After all danger of frost is past in the spring, you can plunge the pot into the soil outdoors in an east- or west-facing location. Late in summer as the leaves begin to yellow, gradually cut back on watering until the leaves fade completely and the soil is dry.
It's now time to dig the pot out of the ground and bring it back indoors. The bulb is now dormant and should be left in the pot and stored in a cool, dark location at about 40-55 degrees. Amaryllis do not require as much of a chilling period as do many other flowering bulbs, but they do require a period of cool, dry dormancy. After about two months of rest, water the soil and set the pot in a sunny window and resume normal care.
B. Rosie Lerner
Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist
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The URL for this page is http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/amaryllis.html
