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Amaryllis, Simply Spectacular

By Jos Van Hage

The Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) bulbs are now available in the garden centers. If you have never grown an Amaryllis before you have to try it as you will not be disappointed and if you have grown them before you know how beautiful they are. They are very easy to grow as they have everything they need inside the bulb. The flower and nutrients are hidden inside the bulb just waiting to be released so the larger the bulb the larger and more flowers there will be. Another nice thing about Amaryllis bulbs is that they can be saved year to year and be made to bloom each year so they are economical too!

The Amaryllis flower is spectacular. The bulb produces an 18-inch high stem and on the top of the stem there will be 4-6 large trumpet shaped flowers spanning 8 inches across. If the bulb is large, you can expect 2-3 stems of flowers giving you weeks of enjoyment. It is well worth the few extra cents to spend a little more money for a larger bulb giving you a much larger and longer show. Flowers come in varying colors of red, orange, white, pink, multi color, as well as single or doubles.

Plant the bulb early so that you can have flowers for Christmas. It generally takes 8-10 weeks for the bulb to bloom once it has been planted. Plant the bulb in a deep, heavy clay pot, which has been soaked in water for a few hours before planting. The pot should be large enough to allow 2 inches of space between the bulb and the sides of the pot. Before putting soil in the pot put a layer of rock in the bottom of the pot to give the pot some extra weight as the flower can be top-heavy when in full bloom and cause the pot to tip over.

To plant the bulb you want to hold the bulb over the pot with the roots hanging down into the pot. Fill the pot with a well draining potting soil and when done the bulb neck and upper portion of the bulb should be above soil level. Press the soil firmly around the bulb and water it in well. Place the potted bulb in a sunny location where the temperature is 18-20 Celsius. Water the bulb sparingly until growth begins to appear, as you do not want the bulb to rot but once it starts to grow increase on the water.

Once the bulb is in bloom, it can be placed in another location where temperatures are cooler and away from the sun as this will prolong the bloom time. Also placing it in a cooler room at night and bring it out to its showplace during the day will lengthen the bloom time. Heat and sun make the flowers go faster, hence, a shorter bloom time. As the flowers, finish cut them off and when they have all finished blooming cut back the stem to within an inch from the bulb top. Continue watering the plant allowing the foliage to grow and treat it as you would any of your other houseplants.

At the end May plant the Amaryllis outside in a semi-shaded area of the garden, and fertilize it with bulb food. In September dig up the bulb after the first frost and place it in a dry place for 6-8 weeks allowing the bulb to have a rest. In October after it has rested plant it again in a pot and it will bloom in March or April.

I know many people who enjoy giving Amaryllis bulbs away as gifts. You can plant them up and give them or just give the bulb. If you are giving them away as gifts remember to keep one for yourself as you will want to enjoy the beautiful flowers in your own home.


-Jos-

Jos Van Hage owns three Art Knapp's Garden Centres in the Prince George area
-Highway 97 North
-Highway 97 South at the old Cariboo Highway
-Highway 16 West
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