Fantastic Christmas Amaryllis

The amaryllis should be kept at room temperatures until growth is noted. Water again only if the soil shows sign of drying significantly. At this point in time, the bulb is bussy growing new roots and very little water is taken up. Do not fertilize until green leaves are seen. This is important to protect the young roots.

Understanding Cultural Care
The amaryllis will grow for 10 months producing a number of green leaves after which it will flower on its own. As opposed to many other bulbs, the amaryllis does not need to go dormant, it can be grown year round as a houseplant if desired. It also does not need a cool period (vernalization), in fact, it should not be exposed to temperatures below 40F being a tropical bulb. If the amaryllis is kept actively growing, it will eventually flower when it is ready. Even without flowers, it makes a fantastic green houseplant with its large arching leaves.

Inducing the bulb to flower at specific time is fairly easy which is no doubt one reason for its popular success. The amaryllis can be forced into flower at any time of the year.

Provided it has had a long enough green growing period (6-7 months) the bulb can be programmed to flower by either exposing it to a cool (40-45 F) growing period for 4-6 weeks while the plant is still green, or the bulb can be put into dormancy by withholding water.

Programming Flowering
The cool growing temperatures (40-45 F) are unfavorable conditions during which growth cease and it is comparable to a winter in it's native habitat. Once temperatures are again raised (simulating spring), the plant is genetically disposed to flower. This natural response can be used to time flowering.

The lower temperature range is also a good storage temperature if you wish store the bulb for a long time, up to a year. At 40-45F, growth will be suspended and the energy retained in the bulb. Make sure the bulb is not allowed to freeze during storage, however.

As an alternative to the cool green growing period, the bulb can be put into dormancy by withholding water. If the bulb is potted, you can simply stop watering. If planted outdoors, dig and store the bulb dry. In 4-6 weeks, the foliage will die-back and turn yellow. Only when the leaves are brown and crisp should they be cut away from the nose of the

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