sparkling amaryllis

It is surprisingly hard to take a good picture of my two fabulous amaryllis.  These pics don't do them justice at all.  Bright background light blackens the flowers, and a darker background misses the subtle sparkle of their petals.

The name Amaryllis comes from the Greek word "sparkling".  And that is just what these lovely flowers do in the dead of winter.

Buy Amaryllis bulbs in fall - they are easy to find in grocery and hardware stores.  Most come complete with a compressed package of soil and a decorative pot.  Before you buy, open the box and make sure it has not sprouted a long stem that is crookedly snaking around looking for light.  A bit of green showing at the top is fine.

Put the soil in the pot, add water, and watch it expand.  Plant the bulb, being careful to tuck the roots into the pot, with half the bulb above the surface.  Place in a sunny window, and within about 3 months, the magic begins.

Black Pearl Amaryllis

 

Red Lion Amaryllis

Growing Amaryllis

• The soil should drain well.  A mixture containing equal parts of peat and perlite is excellent.
• Plant amaryllis bulbs in fall.
• Choose a pot just a bit bigger than the bulb.
• About one-third of the bulb should be above the soil surface.
• After planting, thoroughly water the Amaryllis bulb.
• Place in a sunny window and water when very dry with a balanced fertilizer.
• Amaryllis bulbs come to flower in about 7-10 weeks.  Turn the pots if the stems lean towards the light.
• Remove the spent blossoms to prevent seed formation.  After all the flowers are done, cut the stem off just above the top of the bulb.
• After flowering, the bulb will put out a few long strap-like leaves.  
• Do not cut off the leaves.  They are making food for the bulb so it can re-bloom next year.
• When temperatures are reliably over 10 C at night, move the pot to a shady spot outside.
• Continue to water once a week with weak fertilizer.
• On September 1, bring the pots into the house. Cut off any dead leaves but do not cut the green ones.  Give them a thorough watering, then put in a dark room at about 55 F (10 C).  Do not water - you are making them go dormant.
• after 8 weeks (November 1) put in a sunny window, water regularly with weak fertilizer, and the process will start again.