How to Grow Amaryllis Bulbs for Their Vibrant Winter Flowers

Huge, colorful flowers on tall stalks make amaryllis a holiday favorite. How to care for amaryllis is a little different than other bulbs you may be familiar with, but they are about as easygoing and low maintenance as a plant can be and bloom reliably. Their willingness to flower, at least the first time, is part of their popularity. This guide explains how to grow amaryllis not just for the winter season, but how to care for them so they'll bloom again.

Where to Plant Amaryllis

Amaryllis are most commonly grown indoors as potted plants, and they will grow well anywhere in a home that has bright light. Amaryllis also can be planted and grown as perennials outdoors in Hardiness Zones 9-11. Outdoors, plant amaryllis in flower beds—they look best in groups—along foundations, as seasonal accents, or in planters along the deck. They’ll be fine if they have some sunshine and well-drained soil.

How and When to Plant Amaryllis  

Planting amaryllis bulbs in containers is about as easy as it gets. You need a pot about 2 inches wider than the bulb with adequate drainage holes, some fresh potting soil, and the bulb. That’s it. For a starting point, plant amaryllis bulbs about eight weeks before you want them to bloom. 

Amaryllis bulbs benefit from soaking their roots in room-temperature water for 12-24 hours prior to planting. This produces a healthier and more vigorous plant that blooms faster. Soak just the roots, not the bulb. Use a water glass or other container that’s a little smaller than the bulb to allow the roots to dangle in the water without the bulb falling inside and getting stuck.

After soaking the roots, fill the bottom of the pot with enough potting mix so that the bulb’s top third is exposed above the soil. Fill the rest of the pot, water thoroughly, and set it in a bright, warm spot. You’ll likely see growth begin in a week or two.

If you can’t plant amaryllis bulbs right when you get them, store them in a cool, dark location, ideally about 40-50°F, to help keep them dormant until you can plant them.

Amaryllis Care Tips

Amaryllis don't demand much other than bright light, regular water, and a little fertilizer to produce their impressive flowers.

Light

Amaryllis grow and bloom best with at least four hours of sunshine per day. Too much shade may prevent them from blooming again the following year. Let them soak up the light, even after blooming, to replenish the energy stored in the bulb for next year. Indoors, a grow light is useful to produce the largest, healthiest plants.

Soil and Water

For amaryllis in pots, use a well-draining, fresh potting mix. Bulbs planted outdoors in the ground need a bed of loosened soil with some compost worked in. In either case, good drainage is essential to prevent the bulb from rotting. 

Water your amaryllis bulb immediately after planting, keeping the soil moist but not wet or soggy. If you stick your finger an inch deep in the soil and it feels dry, it’s time to water. For potted amaryllis, watering once per week is usually sufficient. Outdoor beds of amaryllis can be mulched to preserve soil moisture and keep weeds down.

Temperature and Humidity

Amaryllis are tropical plants that like warm weather. The average room temperature in our homes is fine for them, but outdoors, they do best as the weather warms. They prefer moderate to high humidity in the 40-60 percent range.

Fertilizer

If your amaryllis is in a pot, there isn’t much soil around it, and fertilizer will provide the nutrients it needs to store energy for another blooming cycle. Feed it once a month with a diluted general-purpose product, following the directions on the label. When the leaves die back, stop fertilizing until you bring the plant out of dormancy.

Post-Bloom Care and Reblooming

As an amaryllis bloom fades, snip that flower off at the base of its stalk. Deadheading spent flowers prevents the plant from spending energy on creating seeds, redirecting it toward more blooms or growing new leaves. After all the flowers on a stalk are finished, cut the entire stalk off just above the neck of the bulb.

Allow the amaryllis to recharge for several months. After flowering has finished, place the plant in a sunny spot and continue to water and feed it like any houseplant. After five to six months, or in autumn, when the leaves begin to yellow, it’s time to begin a dormant period.

Amaryllis require a period of dormancy to bloom. This happens naturally for outdoor planted bulbs, but you need to help if your amaryllis is a houseplant. To send the plant into dormancy, remove any old foliage. Water it well and place the plant in a dark, cool area, about 40-50°F. A windowless basement or a cellar works well. It takes about six to eight weeks for the cycle to reset. After that time has elapsed, bring the amaryllis back into the light, give it a good watering, and wait for new growth. 

Types of Amaryllis

“Amaryllis” is the common name for certain Hippeastrum varieties frequently seen around the winter holidays. Their height is dependent upon the amount of light they receive. Full sun is preferred and results in the tallest plants.

‘Red Lion’

Award-winning ‘Red Lion’ amaryllis has large, 7-inch, single, rich-red flowers. It grows up to 26 inches tall and produces multiple bloom stalks.

‘Monte Carlo’

The flowers of ‘Monte Carlo’ amaryllis are a warm, deep pink with a white star in the middle. The bulb typically produces at least two flower stems, each with up to four blooms. The blooms are up to 8 inches across. It grows up to 18 inches tall under bright light.

‘Lady Jane’

The lovely ‘Lady Jane’ amaryllis offers huge semi-double, apricot-pink blooms with creamy white feathering and stripes. It grows up to 25 inches tall with massive 6- to 8-inch blooms that are showstoppers in homes and gardens.

‘White Christmas’

As the name suggests, the huge 7-inch single blooms of ‘White Christmas’ amaryllis have snowy white petals set off by a light green throat. The plant grows up to 24 inches tall and often has four to five blooms on two or three stems.