The Amaryllis that we ship have been in cold storage (40-45 degrees F), and it will take a week (or maybe longer) for them to show new growth. We do not send bulbs already budded, because budded ones are more likely to dry out and will take much longer to re-start the blooming process. Always use tepid to room- temperature water when watering your Amaryllis.
Your bulb will send up a thick green shoot within a couple of weeks. Buds begin to appear in about a month to 6 weeks, and your Amaryllis will bloom 7 to 10 weeks after planting.
The best place to keep your Amaryllis once in bloom is in a bright window with cooler temperatures of 60-65 degrees F.
The best place to keep your Amaryllis once it is in bloom is in a bright cool window. The leaves are stretching to the light, so give them very bright light to avoid flopping of foliage. Turn your container periodically to keep leaves straight. You can also trim leaves if desired.
We recommend that you use our Amaryllis stakes, which will provide support and help avoid breakage under the weight of the bloom. Our stakes will allow the Amaryllis to remain upright and attractive for a showy display.
Cut back the flower stalk(s) 1 to 2 inches above the neck of the bulb after blooming stops, (but allow the foliage to grow). Continue caring for your Amaryllis as a house plant by keeping it fed and watered so the soil is moist but not wet. You will need to stop feeding in August.
It’s now time to get the bulb ready to go back into dormancy and prepare the bulb for re-blooming. The foliage will already have started dying back, which is normal. If you want your Amaryllis to bloom at a specific time, count backward about 10-12 weeks to determine when to stop watering. During the dormancy period, you will need to place your Amaryllis in a cool, dark place such as a closet or basement.
Now it’s time to bring your Amaryllis back to the growth and bloom stage. Bring back into bright light, resume watering, and remove any dead foliage. You may want to re-pot in some fresh potting soil to rejuvenate the bulb as it grows. Leaves will follow shortly and then blooms.
Note that waxed Amaryllis bulbs will not rebloom, and cannot be replanted after the holidays.
A bulb that produces leaves first makes you wonder if there is something wrong with the Amaryllis because it is only growing leaves and showing no bud yet. That happens with some, and it isn't something out of the ordinary.
A bulb may grow leaves before flowers, or it may do it in reverse. In either case, you should give the plant warmth, light and careful watering, and allow it to continue to grow. These are hybrid Amaryllis, and by the nature of their breeding, you will definitely see larger leaves. This is normal, so do not be concerned.
Please don’t forget our Amaryllis stakes to help support the foliage as well as the blooms.
