Should I water Amaryllis bulbs?

I bought two Amaryllis bulbs at the same time (Star of Holland and Apple Blossom).





The Holland has begun to grow rapidly (was growing of the box it came in) with several straps.





The Apple has yet to show any growth. In fact it looks like whoever cut it back really did a mangling job. No clean lines.





I have had them for 2 weeks. I watered each heavily once. Both are in a south facing window.





Do you guys have some tips to get the apple blossom going?





(BTW, I have no experience with these bulbs, and after reading some websites, I understand they get very big and are prone to fall over. Mine came in cheap plastic containers with a plastic saucer approximately the same diameter as the pot. Do I need to replant in a sturdier container?)

Should I water Amaryllis bulbs?
You did okay by giving your bulbs a heavy watering at first, but you have to continue watering them -- especially after a few days.





Your Apple Blossom may be just taking a little longer to send out a flower bud and stem. And yes, Apple Blossoms have huge flowers and stems and leaves. For your first try with them, I would leave them in the pot they came in. I believe I eventually might have transplanted an A.B. into a clay pot, but I have to tell you something, even that is not heavy enough to give the plant true stability. My recommendation is for you to rotate the plant or when it blooms, use it as a floor plant and rotate it by a corner of the room it is in. I personally do not like to see blooming amaryllis by a window -- you usually can't rotate them properly and the flowers tend to die sooner. (Still, after blooming, right up to the window pane is the best place to have a growing amaryllis plant.)





Amaryllis can be planted outside, by the way, after all danger of frost is gone. You have to dig them up and store them inside during the winter though.





If you use it as a houseplant, you also much know that amaryllis needs a dormant period where the leaves die down -- place it in a dry, dark place and do not water it for several months.
Reply:Repotting may be just the answer because it does two things. First, it lets you see the roots of the bulb to see if they are growing and secondly by repotting to a clay pot you are providing more stability to the plant especially as it begans to flower. I suggest that you rotate the plant towards the sunlight so the flower stem doesn't grow in any one direction. The plants typically do not need staking but the flowers are huge and could tip over if it grows in one direction. I wouldn't worry too much about the Apple Blossom bulb it should eventually start to take off. I hope this helps and good luck.
Reply:My wife planted those bulbs-in-a-box outside. I water them every day. They do fine. In a box, make sure the water can drain out of the bottom or you will have a box full of water and that will drown the plants.

Toothache