Bulb Garden with Amaryllis Care Guide

The premium bulbs in this special assortment are pre-planted in a grower’s pot inside a decorative container and are beginning to sprout. Follow these simple care instructions, and in just a few weeks, your bulb garden will be bursting with fresh color and fragrance.

ARRIVAL:

Carefully unpack your garden, being especially careful around any brittle shoots rising above the soil line. Gently pull back the moss top-dressing and water thoroughly. Avoid getting water into the neck of the amaryllis bulb.

If you are unable to care for your pot of bulbs right away, it may be kept in a cool, dark location for a short period of time. If the garden is frozen upon arrival (which will not affect the quality of these cold-weather bulbs), allow it to thaw overnight before watering.

BLOOM TIME:

Beginning in 2 to 4 weeks, each variety will flower in its natural sequence, brightening your home with a long succession of blooms. Remove flowers as they fade.

The amaryllis bulb can rebloom for years to come by following these simple steps:

  • After blooming has finished, cut the flower stalk off 1 to 2 inches above the bulb. The leaves will continue to grow and nourish the bulb. Continue watering throughout the summer months. Fertilize as you see fit with a liquid fertilizer.
  • In mid to late August, begin to withhold water to induce dormancy. The foliage will die as the pot dries out. Remove old leaves. Store bulb in a dry, dark location with temperatures between 45° to 55°F. Keep bulb dormant for a minimum of 8 weeks or longer if possible.
  • 6 to 8 weeks before blooms are desired, return to room temperature, repot the bulb in fresh soil, move it into the light, and resume watering, lightly until new shoots appear, then keep soil moist.
Bulb Gardens

PLACEMENT:

Display your bulb garden in a location with bright, indirect sunlight or full sun and temperatures ranging between 65° to 75°F. Be sure to place the decorative container on a water-resistant surface, as it may not be waterproof. Rotate the garden periodically to keep the stalks growing straight.

WATER:

Water regularly to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Easy watering tip: place 1 to 3 small ice cubes on the soil for slow watering.

TRANSPLANTING:

Forcing bulbs indoors, as we have done with these, depletes their reserves. We do not recommend transplanting these bulbs once they are finished blooming. However, if you do try growing your bulbs outdoors, transplant them in spring after all danger of frost has passed in a sunny location (Zones 3-8). It may take years for the bulbs to bloom again, if at all.

Amaryllis bulbs can be successfully transplanted outdoors in spring into organic, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade in Zones 8 to 11.

IMPORTANT: Ornamental plant material should not be eaten. Keep away from pets and children.

Bulb Gardens