Amaryllis for the Holidays!
by FigTree
You don't need a degree in horticulture to grow amaryllis. They are so easy to grow even a kindergartner can plant them and get great results. Drop them into some soil, give them a good drink, and stand back. In four to six weeks, you'll have your very own spectacular display of bloom. That's because unlike other forced bulbs, amaryllis require no pre-cooling in order to bloom; they're ready to go right after you buy them. So, turn those winter blues into happy holidays; you've got bulbs to plant.
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At first glance, an amaryllis bulb, with its flaking brown skin and gnarled roots, doesn't look like much. But once it starts to grow, this ugly duckling turns into a swan. Tall, graceful stalks rise from the bulb almost before your eyes producing huge, lily-like blossoms in an assortment of spectacular colors. Each flower stalk develops a cluster of three or more giant blooms. Individual flowers may measure 10 inches in diameter. Then, just when you think the flower show is over, a second stalk may rise to the occasion with even more blooms. Individual amaryllis make striking accent plants, but you can increase the magic by grouping two or three bulbs together in a large pot.
Let's get these bulbs planted:
Planting an amaryllis bulb is about as easy as gardening gets. When your bulb arrives in the mail, remove it from the box and gently untangle and separate the roots of the bulb. Then, soak the roots in lukewarm water for three or four hours before planting. Select a pot that's two or three inches wider than the top of the bulb.
1. Fill the pot with rich, well-drained potting soil; set the bulb into the soil leaving about two thirds of the bulb above the soil.
2.Keep track of your favorites by labeling your containers or using a plant marker. Then water generously. Place the pot near a sunny window or in a warm room (day temperatures of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit) with bright indirect light.
3.Feed your amaryllis once or twice a month with a weak solution of organic fertilizer.
After the blooms fade, cut off the flower stalk at soil level.
In the spring, once frost is safely past, move your amaryllis outdoors to a partially-shady location. Continue to water and feed the plant until late summer when the foliage begins to turn yellow. Then remove the leaves as they die.
In the fall, it is time to sleep. Before cool weather sets in, bring your amaryllis inside and place the pot, bulb and all, in a dark place for a six- to eight-weeks.
After the bulb's rest period, repot with fresh soil, water well, and place on a sunny windowsill. When repotting, remove any offsets (tiny bulbs attached to the larger, mother bulb) and pot them up individually for additional plants.
Insider Tip:
To make you amaryllis bloom for a couple more days, use a set of tweezers to take off the pollen-bearing anthers before they begin to shed.
More tips on amaryllis:
Tags
Amaryllis, Bulbs, Holiday, gifts, christmas
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