When do you put your amaryllis in the dark so it will bloom for Christmas?

This is the first year I have ever had an amaryllis and I was wondering when do you bring the plant inside and put it in the dark so that it will bloom for the holidays?

When do you put your amaryllis in the dark so it will bloom for Christmas?
visit this web sight


http://www.amaryllis.com/pac.htm
Reply:I leave mine outside (zone 7) and stop watering as fall approaches. I then put the bulb, pot and all in my washroom and don't water. Then maybe 1 November I start watering weekly then bring the bulb into the light as the bloom starts peeking out of the bulb. Rotate the pot to keep the bloom more upright and to evenly "light" the leaves as they arrive.


The trick with bulbs is to mimic their needs which generally means sunshine when the strap leaves are present-- feed if you want-- then as they wind down for the winter, mimic fall and winter dormancy-- Amaryllis don't need chilling. There is a perennial amaryllis here in zone 7. The only "special" thing I've noticed-- the bulbs are planted on the south side of the house. -- Daffodils don't need chilling-- tulips do. Grape Muscari don't need chilling-- and they spread nicely. Don't even think of lilies of the valley in zone 7-- forget it!


have fun
Reply:You usually do this in the fall, if yuo stick it in a fridge you get better results. Put it in the frige right now for a couple weeks and then place it in the dark-this froces the bulbs to bloom a little but early