With its magnificent brightly colored flowered stems, amaryllis brings light to our houses for the long winter season. To extend its blooming, special care is needed.
If you wish to keep your plant several years, purchase a bulb to plant yourself instead of an already potted plant. Choose it well: it must be well-formed, and its size will give you an idea of its bloom.
Before planting the bulb, snip off about an inch (a few centimeters) of its roots. Place it in a pot that is wide enough, bury it halfway in rich and well drained substrate to avoid accumulating water. Place it near a radiator in a bright room, avoiding direct sunlight. This will lead it to start.
At this stage, water regularly but not too much (once or twice a week), until flowers appear about 6 to 8 weeks after planting. From that moment on, no need to water anymore! The plant will consume the nutrients stored in its bulb. Place it in your living room to savor it as much as you can.
Once the last flower of your amaryllis has wilted away, cut the flower stem about an inch (3 centimeters) above the bulb crown. Water the plant regularly so that its leaves can develop: this is when the plant replenishes its nutrients.
When leaves turn yellow in the course of summer, place your plant in a cool, dry and ventilated place to induce dormancy: a room inside your house or a shaded spot outside. Let the leaves fall off on their own.
Three months later, the bulb is ready to enter into a new growth cycle. Remove ½ to 1 inch (1 to 2 cm) soil from the surface and replace with fresh soil mix. Re-potting once every three years is enough. These easy tips for amaryllis care after blooming will let it flower again for many more years.
M.-C. H.
