Amaryllis plants feature stripped, large, flower-like leaves. The flowers are usually deep red, pink, white, or a combination of these shades and will bloom for about seven weeks. Today I will introduce you to just one color of these plants. In future chapters, I will continue to talk about them and introduce you to other colors. All of them are exquisite and worth enjoying one by one.
Amaryllis are some of the most beautiful plants I’ve ever seen. I also have to say that the bulbs are among the most expensive I’ve ever bought. I’ve seen amaryllis worth up to hundreds of dollars, although my ones don’t even come close to that price. In defense of what I have said, I have to say that they are all gorgeous, whether expensive or less expensive.
Amaryllis bulbs can be grown indoors to produce plants that bloom all winter long, although they can do so at any time of the year. Amaryllis blooms are typically hybrids of several species of the genus Hippeastrum, a collection of tropical plants from Central and South America. A current genus of Amaryllis consists of only two South African species; however, they are not the amaryllis plants frequently grown in the United States.
The first amaryllis I had bloomed inside the house, and then I planted it in my garden, outside the home. I didn’t know they were flowers that were kept inside the house. Amaryllis bloomed the following year at the end of summer and has been kept alive. When I found out that there were flowers to grow inside the house, I tried to transplant it, but I didn’t dare; I dismembered it to make it smaller and put it in a pot. I intend to see how big it is come spring. I want to put into practice the knowledge I have now to redeem it. Here I tell you some of the knowledge I have acquired about these beautiful plants.
To reseed or first sow a bulb, choose a five- to seven-inch-diameter container for indoor gardening and fill it halfway with a high-quality, well-draining potting mix of sandy loam and soil. Thereafter, before filling the pot, place the amaryllis bulb to expose the upper third. Ten to twelve weeks before the desired flowering time is ideal for planting the bulbs.
Amaryllis work best in indirect solid light during the evenings and early morning hours. The soil should be kept moist but not soggy. A sturdy flower stalk should emerge after planting has been done. Eventually, the flower stalk will give way to flat leaves. If you rotate the container every few days, the flower stem will develop straighter and be more evenly exposed to sunlight.
For them to bloom in the winter, it is best to buy the amaryllis bulbs in the fall and put them in pots in the spring; they will bloom for the winter holidays. follow the exact instructions for planting in the spring. However, if you take care of your amaryllis plants year-round, here are a few tips for plants to stay healthy and bloom to regain their winter blooms.
Remove spent flowers from your amaryllis by pruning the stem but leave the leaves unpruned. During the summer, you can move your plant outside to partial shade. Once the top two inches of soil dries out, water your amaryllis. Every two to three weeks, apply water-soluble fertilizer of medium concentration.
In August, move the plant indoors. Never leave this plant unprotected from frost, as its leaves will deteriorate. Remove any amaryllis leaves that have entirely wilted. Your amaryllis is now ready to be placed in a dark environment. Bring it indoors to a cool, dry, dark place (55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit) and out of direct sunlight. At this stage, or around 10-12 weeks before you want it to bloom, you should also stop watering it.
The amaryllis will shoot a new flowering stem in response to the absence of water and vegetation. Place the plant in a warm, bright indoor area and re-gift immediately. After the leaves emerge, the flowers will follow soon after. To re-establish the bulbs, you must let them go into dormancy for eight to ten weeks after flowering.
