One of the most popular gift during theNovember and December holidaysis an Amaryllis , with beautiful 6 to 10 - in flowers that grow on 1 - 2 foot stalks ( call scapes ) . You may be most familiar with red or lily-white Amaryllis flowers but they also appear in pinkish , salmon , apricot , bicolor or picotee ( petal with a unlike color at the sharpness ) .
When worry for any plant , I find that it ’s always helpful to recognise its lineage . Having this information instruct us what shape the industrial plant need year circle to avail it expand . Here is an excellent description of Amaryllis from the United States National Arboretum :
Amaryllis are bulbs of the genus Hippeastrum that are aboriginal to tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas . Some species grow in rock fissure in savannas that have distinct dry and stiff seasons ; others grow in high tableland regions that have cool conditions for most of the twelvemonth . One metal money from Brazil is epiphytic and grow in trees in montane forests with no dirt around the roots . Many specie have been hybridized to produce today ’s hybrids , and most of these species experience ardent , humid conditions with abundant rainfall for most of the year and a short , cooler dry time of year . To make your amaryllis flower again , you simply have to mime the condition that nature provides .
How to care for your Amaryllis
In stores , Amaryllis works may already be flowering in the pot or sold as a bulb . When select the latter , take the big bulb possible , as the large bulbs will bring forth more chaff and blooms the first yr .
An Amaryllis craves sunlight yr - around and never likes loaded feet , so place it near a gay windowpane and keep the filth on the dry side . Do your good to not get the top of the light bulb sloshed when you water , as that can quickly introduce disease into the plant or cause the light bulb to molder . As soon as the flora start to flower , move the amaryllis out of direct sun ( away from the window ) . This will maintain the bloom as long as possible .
Amaryllisflowersshould last for several weeks before fading . After blooming , peril the foliage to as much sun as possible , because unlike otherflower bulb , Amaryllis is capable of produce salad days after bloom with no dormancy time period , unless forced . Keep the land damp but not soaked and move the pot to a quick room with a sunny window – if you have a solarium orgreenhouse , all the better . utilize an constituent liquid feed monthly .
If you exist in an area with no apprehensible winter or winters which do n’t go below 10 degrees ( geographical zone 8 - 10 ) , you may plant your Amaryllis bulb directly in the earth and look on it blossom and rebloom incessantly . For the relaxation of us , the industrial plant will take to stay indoors late descend through other springiness .
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How to repot your Amaryllis
The best clock time to repot your Amaryllis is immediately after blooming . This plant loves a tight blank , so choose a container which is only about one inch larger than the actual bulb . Fill your container halfway with potting soil that drains quickly and is in high spirits in constituent topic , then set your bulb on top of the grease . Add more potting soiluntil it reach the blanket part of the bulb , but no further . Do not bury an Amaryllis bulb as you would other bloom bulbs , as this will allow water to enter it , induce the bulb to rot or become diseased .
When you repot an Amaryllis medulla oblongata , you may detect smaller side bulb . These can be separated from the main lightbulb and potted to get additional plants , but will take 2 - 3 years before flower ( it takes a ton of vigor to produce a flower that openhanded ) . Water your amaryllis good after you re - pot it , but not again until the open is more or less dry to the touch .
Amaryllis plants love being potful - bound and will fork up showy peak to establish it . They only require repotting every 3 or 4 years , which should be done after let the plant to go abeyant as delineate above .
How to transition your Amaryllis from indoors to outdoors
When all danger of frost has come about , acclimate your Amaryllis to the out-of-doors with a slow first appearance ( this is predict hardening off ) . On tender days in bounce , place it on a shady porch first ( or some other kind of protection from lineal sun ) , bring in it indoors on nights which are insensate . After a few day of hardening off , gradually introduce the plant to direct sunlight for a few hours at a fourth dimension – 1 time of day the first sidereal day , 2 hour the next , etc . Only when the nights are no cold than 50 degrees , should the plant remain outdoors in a spot where it get at least 6 hours of lineal sun each day . Do n’t be appall if some of the leaf withers and dies during this readjustment . photo to idle words , sun and rainfall is stressful on the plant , but it will replace any foliage that dies . Fertilize with an constituent fertilizer every 2 weeks .
How to rebloom your Amaryllis
The mystery to get Amaryllis to rebloom year after year is to never stop growing it . As soon as the blossom have wither each class , cut them off to forbid seeds from constitute – this will save the plant ’s energy . leave behind about 4 inches of the stalking , as it help to develop food after flower . When the stalk begins to plow brown , nip this off as well , but always entrust the leafage integral – it will embrown and fade by nature , and get novel foliage . Keep the bulb exposed to lustrous sunlight and urine regularly as the top becomes dry to the feeling . Be sure the water enfeeble freely from the pot , as Amaryllis detest wet foot .
How to time your Amaryllis bloom for Christmas and the holidays
Also known as “forcing” your Amaryllis
If you need your Amaryllis to bloom during the holidays , squeeze the plant into quiescence in August . To force quiescency , keep the foliage on the plant and place the container in a cool ( not below freezing ) elbow room like a wardrobe , basement or garage and do not water . When the foliage has become dry and brown , remove it . After 8 - 12 weeks , you should see a small green shoot come forth from the center of the bulb – this is the sentence to bring the bulb back out into your brilliant and warm elbow room ( 70 - 80 grade ) . Water the filth thoroughly . Flowers and foliage will start to develop after 3 - 4 calendar week ( interesting note – the flush will continue to mould even if the leaf does n’t ) . you’re able to repot the lightbulb in fresh soil at this percentage point .
Garden Answer has done a courteous video on how to establish your Amaryllis .
