Should You Save the Bulb from Your Holiday Amaryllis?
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Amaryllis plants (Hippeastrum) are among the most beautiful winter flowers to brighten your home. Typically available during the holiday season, these striking blooms can reach heights of over a foot tall. They come in a variety of rich, vibrant colors, including red, pink, white, salmon, green, or even striped patterns, with options for single, double-cupped, or frilly petals. Their long-lasting blooms provide a cheerful burst of color, making the dark, chilly winter days feel more inviting and warm.
Native to South America, amaryllis have large bulbs that are sold bareroot or as part of a kit with a pot and potting medium. Some amaryllis may be grown in water or as bulbs covered with wax. All of these plants are incredibly easy to grow, making them a lovely gift for gardeners (or for yourself, too!).
An important note to consider: The location where the bulb was grown (which might not always be indicated on the tag or description) influences the blooming time of your amaryllis. Bulbs that bloom approximately four to six weeks after being potted were typically grown in the southern hemisphere, often in South Africa. On the other hand, amaryllis grown in the northern hemisphere take about eight to 12 weeks to bloom after being potted. This may explain why your amaryllis plant is taking longer to bloom than anticipated!
Once an amaryllis has bloomed and died back, many people compost the bulb and plan to buy another one for the next holiday season. However, you can actually save an amaryllis bulb, and, with a little TLC, get it to rebloom. Ahead, read on about how to save an amaryllis bulb—or how to know if you're better off tossing it and starting fresh next year.
Should You Save An Amaryllis Bulb?
It depends! Most amaryllis produce two to six large flowers on a tall stalk, with the hollow flower stalk appearing before the leaves are produced. Typically, the bigger the bulb, the better the blooms.
An amaryllis bulb may not be worth saving if its flowering was lackluster (with no blooms or only one flower). But if you have a nice, healthy bulb that produced lush blooms, it’s worth the effort to save it for next year. Just know that you’re going to have to do a little work to help it rebloom! Like other winter blooming plants, such as poinsettias or holiday cacti, amaryllis requires certain conditions to help flower again next year.
Before you attempt to save a bulb, it's important to know that amaryllis that have been grown in water or encased in wax are typically meant to be discarded after blooming. Without soil, these bulbs cannot develop roots and have already expended their stored energy for one impressive display, meaning they typically will not rebloom the following year. Treat yourself to a new bulb next year!
Also, be aware that all parts of this plant—especially the bulb—are toxic to pets. So, make sure to keep it away from your fur babies if you’re going to hang onto the bulb.
How to Get An Amaryllis Bulb to Rebloom
If you’ve decided to save your amaryllis bulb, you’ll need to follow specific steps so you can get it to bloom next holiday. While most amaryllis will bloom off and on, you can control the bloom time by forcing it into dormancy. Here’s how to do it:
Cut off the flowers once they have died back, but leave the leaves and stalk in place to photosynthesize (make food) for next year.
Place the pot in bright sunlight. Water regularly, and fertilize with a balanced houseplant fertilizer every month (5-10-10 or 10-10-10 is ideal).
Take your plant outdoors when nighttime temperatures outdoors are in the 60s, gradually introducing the plant to full sun conditions for a few days. Eventually, the plant should receive six hours of direct sunlight. Burying the pot into the ground protects the bulb from temperature spikes.
In mid-July, bring the pot indoors. Store the potted amaryllis in a dark, dry spot, and don’t water, which will force it into dormancy. Don’t remove leaves until they become dry and shriveled.
Water the plant in late October. Place it back in a bright window, and wait for new growth to appear. Then water when the potting medium feels dry on top.
Your plant should bloom again in four to six weeks after coming out of dormancy.
Can You Plant an Amaryllis Bulb Outdoors?
Amaryllis bulbs can grow outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 8 and warmer (find your zone here). Plant the bulb in the spring after the threat of frost has passed. Make sure the soil is well-draining and that the bulb receives full sun for most of the day with afternoon shade.
Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.
You Might Also Like
