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Fantastic Christmas Amaryllis

© Kenneth Joergensen

The amaryllis plant is a favorite for Christmas, and with good reason: This south american tropical beauty is easy to grow, exhibits huge colorful blooms in red, pink, white and orange, and it blooms like no other bulb. Usually a bulb will produce 1-2 tall flower scapes each featuring up to 4 flowers.

Due to the number of flowers and scapes developing, the bloom time is extended often for up to 2 weeks. Combined with the ease with which you can force this bulb into flowering, it makes the perfect holiday plant.

In late fall, typically right around Halloween, the bulbs becomes available in stores. Often sold in sets with pot and potting mix, the bulbs can be brought into flower in as little as 6-8 weeks, perfectly timed for the holidays.

It is very easy to grow and care for, and does not require much to make it flower.

The main grievances typically involve problems trying to make the plant bloom the following year, and sometimes uncertainty with respect to growing habits. In this article, I would like to explain how you get the most out of the plant.

A Tropical Bulb
Being a bulb, the amaryllis is often confused with spring flowering bulbs when it comes to horticultural care, which can be devastating since this bulb is tropical and not hardy like tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths, for example. It must be grown indoors, unless you live in a very warm climate which does not freeze. Even in cool climates, however, it can be transferred outdoors in summer for a nice accent plant.

The Amaryllis is the common name given to this plant. The botanical (latin) name is Hippeastrum but it also goes by a multitude of other names including Horse Star Lily, and St. Joseph's Lily.

Bring home the bulb
When you buy the box, it usually comes with a pot with drainage holes, an outer pot without holes, a small bag of potting mix, and of course the bulb. If you bought an amaryllis without a pot, then look for a pot which has a diameter about 2" wider than the thickest part of the bulb. Typically a 5"-6" round pot with a saucer will do. This is just large enough to keep it growing. Do not overpot (use a too large pot). This plant flowers best if kept somewhat rootbound.

Place potting mix at the bottom of the pot and plant the bulb with about 1/3 - 1/2 of the bulb out of the potting mix. Then firm the remaining potting mix around the bulb and water once really well. The potting mix should be completely soaked and then allowed to drain. Empty the saucer after a while as the bulb does not tolorate standing water in the outer pot/saucer, although it prefers soil which is consistently moist.

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