Amaryllis care: How to grow and care for Amaryllis lilies

Amaryllis care: How to grow and care for Amaryllis lilies

Amaryllis flowers take every opportunity to show off their gorgeous beauty and captivating colors. If you’ve received a bouquet of amaryllis as a Christmas gift before, you’ve probably wished you could plant them and keep their eternal beauty blooming in your home or garden. Turns out, it’s actually a lot easier than you think. It’s true that the sheer beauty of flowers can be intimidating, especially to new gardeners. And for good reason, as this bulb requires special care and the right conditions for the flowers to bloom. However, if you keep reading, you’ll find all you need to know about how to grow amaryllis lilies, which varieties to choose, and how to care for them so they bloom year after year.

Amaryllis at a glance

The amaryllis tree dates back to the early 18th century when the first cultivar was developed. It is grown from amaryllis belladonna, a South African species with star-like flowers. A century later, another botanist, traveling through South America, discovered more species of amaryllis. As the family grew, interest in the perennial bulb with its beautiful flowers increased. The bulbs grow best in zones 8 to 10 and average one to two feet tall and one foot across. Within 8 to 10 weeks of planting the gourd, it will begin to flower. The flowers grow on top of a long stem more than 25 inches tall. They grow in clusters of 2 to 12 flowers. Each funnel-shaped flower has 6 petals and is about 4 inches in diameter. The petals are arranged in two rows, the inner petals and the outer sepals, both have the same size and shape. The flowers range in color from purple to white, and pink. Sometimes the petals have more than one color such as crimson and white or purple and white. Bulbs are some of the earliest flowering plants. Some varieties begin blooming in mid-winter while others wait until early spring. But commercial growers have found ways to get amaryllis to bloom in early winter in time for the holidays. This is why you will find blooming flowers in flower shops ready to be wrapped as a Christmas gift.

Like Amaryllis

Since you can’t have too much of a good thing, many species of amaryllis have been discovered over time and many cultivars have been developed to meet the high demand for more varieties. So of course the first thing you need to do is decide which variety to grow. Here are some recommendations for starting your amaryllis garden.

• Sweet Nymph: As the name suggests, this delicate flower creates a vibrant splash of color. With a dark red base and white stripes, the small petals are shorter than the average amaryllis. But because they live in a vase for a relatively long time, these flowers are a good choice for flower arrangements.

• Rosalie: An elegant variety that grows mainly indoors. The floral blocks measure approximately 24 inches and are the centerpiece of any design. They come in many colors with pinkish apricot shades and pale green centers. Each stem bears about 5 flowers making it a great houseplant.

• Rilona: This variety has apricot flowers but has dark red veins. The intricate arrangement of petals gives the flower its unique beauty. And although the color is more subdued than the average flashy amaryllis, it suits many settings and interior designs.

• Pajama Party: The name says it all here. This is a festive flower that brings a cheerful atmosphere and is therefore a good candidate as a gift during the holidays. The patterns on the petals are eye-catching with their deep red hues and pinkish stripes. Native to the Netherlands, this cultivar grows to about 20 inches tall. A single bulb usually produces 3 stems and each stem bears an average of about 5 flowers.

• Heart Rain: It’s hard to know whether this variety was named after Prince’s famous hit, or whether the famous musician himself was inspired by the flower’s exotic beauty. However, one thing is certain. The flowers don’t have a hint of purple on them. They are really pink with stripes and the magical flowers average about 8 inches in size. Each stem carries a cluster of 6 flowers facing different directions. So wherever you stand facing a tree, you will have a flower staring back at you.

How to Grow Amaryllis

We said earlier that the beauty of amaryllis can be intimidating to a gardener with little or no experience growing bulbs. However, while caring for perennials can sometimes be a bit demanding, growing bulbs is actually quite simple. Here’s how to start this adorable flower bulb in simple steps.

1. Choose a large bulb because it will develop many stems and flowers. Smaller bulbs will produce at most one stem.

2. The bulb must be healthy, with no mold or scars on the surface.

3. Choose a terracotta container with large drainage holes in the bottom. You can start with a small pot that is slightly wider than the bulb.

4. Fill half of the pot with all-purpose potting mix. Make sure it is sterilized with a liquid texture. Mix organic materials to improve drainage.

5. Place the bulb with the pointed end facing up into the container and add the rest of the potting mix. Leave the top third of the bulb exposed.

6. Water the bulbs to keep them moist. Do not dislodge the bulbs and avoid completely covering the bulbs with potting mix.

7. Keep the pot on a windowsill that faces west or south and gets at least 8 hours of sunlight per day throughout the growing season.

8. Most bulbs will germinate and begin to bloom within the next 8 weeks. Some can flower just 6 weeks after planting the bulbs while others take up to 10 weeks to bloom.

Amaryllis Care

On average, amaryllis plants need specific temperatures for every season of the year. And while sunlight is necessary for the flowering and success of this bulb. Watering and feeding are other aspects of perennial plant care that ensure that the plant blooms each year at the right time.

Land

Loamy soil is usually best for amaryllis bulbs. It allows roots to grow without much resistance and does not retain water. In addition, naturally loamy soil is rich in nutrients and this bulb needs to grow in fertile soil. If you don’t have loam, amend your clay soil to make it as close to sand as possible. Add coarse sand or perlite to the heavy soil until the texture is loose enough to hold a handful of soil. If the soil still clumps, it means it needs more sand or perlite. Adjust the soil pH to bring it closer to 6.5. Add an inch of lime to increase the pH by 0.5 points.

Light

When exposed to sunlight, amaryllis plants need plenty of sunlight. But as usual, there are no short-term rules about how much light it needs. It all depends on your region, how hot and long the summers are, and whether you’re growing bulbs in the garden or indoors. Outdoor Amaryllis typically thrive in indirect light. Partial shade, especially in the afternoon, can go a long way in protecting sensitive plants. As an indoor plant, place the pot near a window that gets plenty of sunlight but filter the light with lace curtains. Avoid exposing the plant to direct sunlight during the summer months.

Drinking water

Once you have the right light conditions for your amaryllis to bloom, you need to pay attention to the plant’s watering habits. During spring and summer, perennials need an inch of water per week including the amount of rain you receive. Watering should be aimed at the base of the plant and not at the foliage or flowers. Let the top few inches of soil dry between waterings, and always water lightly so the moist soil doesn’t stay wet. One more note about amaryllis and water. After the flowers fall, cut back on watering and let the plant rest. This is important for the following season’s blooms.

Fertilizer

Amaryllis bulbs require nutrient-rich soil to grow and flower. Before potting, be sure to add 2 inches of organic compost or composted manure to every foot of garden soil. If you are growing it in a pot, skip the old compost because of its unpleasant smell and use organic material instead. After the tuber takes root and the stem grows out of it, fertilize the plant with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Before the flower buds bloom increase, you should cut back on nitrogen-rich fertilizers and switch to liquid fertilizers rich in phosphorus. This will give you large and colorful flowers. Fertilize every two weeks during the growing season. Stop feeding the plant when the last flower has fallen to prepare for the dormant season.

Flowering and freezing

Getting perennial amaryllis plants to bloom year after year is not the right thing to do. The amount and quality of care you give your bulbs and your gardening skills can be the difference between a good amount of blooms every year and a plant that doesn’t bloom for several seasons. When the flowering season ends, cut off all flower stems still on the plant. But encourages stem and leaf growth. Strong foliage is important for flower buds to develop next year. Before the first frost, bring outdoor plants inside to protect them from the freezing cold. Cut back the foliage by a third and keep the bulbs in a sheltered and warm location throughout the winter.

Pests

Amaryllis bulbs are susceptible to bugs that attack other houseplants and flowering plants in your garden. Thrips, aphids, fungus gnat larvae, mealybugs and spider mites are the most common pests and you need to remove them as soon as you see signs of infection. The two most effective ways to get rid of these tiny pests are to spray the plant with neem oil or rub the leaves and stems with an alcohol swab. In the event of an infestation of armyworms, snails, grasshoppers and slugs, you can pick up the bugs by hand and submerge them in a bucket full of soapy water. As for diseases, you’ll need to watch out for root rot and southern blight. Both are caused by waterlogged soil or inadequate watering practices. Let the top 2 inches of soil dry before you water the pot. Water the plant moist but not wet and give the plant an inch of water per week in spring and summer.