How do you care for an Amaryllis plant?

The most important thing you have to remember for a potted, indoor amaryllis plant is that it must get a lot of full, direct sun. The longer the leaves, the healthier the plant (and the bulb) will be. This is one houseplant that should be placed as close to a window as possible -- whoever says otherwise has never successfully grown amaryllis plants indoors. (When in flower though, if possible, I would not place the plant so close to a window -- just to keep the flower nice for a longer period.)





Also remember that an amaryllis naturally dies down and goes dormant. It is not dead or diseased -- just resting for a few months before it blooms again. Place the plant in a dark and dry place -- in the pot it was grown in, as long as the bulb has not outgrown the pot.





You can also plant these flowering bulbs outside, much the same way you would treat any other summer flowering bulb. In northern climates, however, you have to dig them up and bring them inside -- and place them in a dark, dry place for overwintering.





DON'T cut off or trim a healthy amaryllis leaf. Many people do this practice which lowers the vitality of the bulb.





Don't over-fertilize with nitrogen fertilizer, indoors or outdoors.





Don't get rid of your amaryllis plant just because it stopped blooming.





Hope this helps.





P.S. I water when the soil is dry to the touch.

How do you care for an Amaryllis plant?
water only when the soil has completely dried out; make sure it has lots of direct sunlight
Reply:I live in zone 6, these directions would be for any area that the ground freezes in winter. I am guessing you have an amaryllis bulb that is growing already, and if there are flower stalks coming up the plant needs to be in full sun untilthe flowers start to open, then move it out of direct sun for the duration of the blooms only. The plant should be watered when the soil is on the dry side. Once the plant has finished flowering, remove the flower stalks and keep in full sun until the beginning of september. After flowering, fertilize the plant . I would think a geranular bulb food would be good, but I use osmocote, which is a granular slow release fertilizer, good for 3 months, and practically fool proof. I have many amaryllis and I dont plant them in the ground unless I just sink the pot down a bit in the ground. Come september you need to stop watering the plant, so it is much easier to move the pots than dig up the bulbs. (in ground freezing areas)Do not cut the leaves off until they die. The plant should then be stored in a cool dark place until at least december, no water,no light. I put mine in the basement, in their pots. This is their resting period, now you can put them back in direct sunlight, water sparingly until new growth begins, and hopefully enjoy another round of beautiful flowers. Good luck.





PS Since I have 4 pots with 5 bulbs in each, I stagger the time bringing them back into the light, a couple weeks at a time, so they dont flower all at once.
Reply:They are such beautiful flowers...I always start the bulb from Walmart in the house.....just follow the instructions on the box....after they bloom..plant them outside....when the foliage dies with the arrival of cold weather, use some bone meal and blood meal on top of the ground and around the bulb....scratch the ground a little and every time it rains, a little more fertilizer will go down to the bulb...then the bulb can get everything it needs to bloom for you in the yard next summer. All my bulbs outside get bone meal and blood meal at least once a year after blooming.