Success with Amaryllis
From: Amaryllis Bulb Company at http://www.amaryllis.com/pac.htm
I’ve heard and read several different approaches to growing amaryllis but perhaps the most straight forward comes from The Amaryllis Bulb Company. They have a very good website with easy-to-follow tips on how to grow and re-grow your amaryllis. Here is a brief summary of their tips for success:
October - November
* Plant 7 - 10 weeks before you want the amaryllis to flower. For Christmas flowering, plant mid October.
* Plant the bulb up to its neck in a nutritious compost.
* Place the pot in a warm place (68 to 70 degrees F) with lots of light. The bulb needs heat to begin to grow.
* Water sparingly until the leaves and bud appear then water more frequently.
April - May
* When it is done flowering, cut the old flowers from the stem, and when the stem starts to sag, cut it back to the top of the bulb.
* Place it outside for the summer. Water and fertilize regularly. It should grow outside for 5 - 6 months.
September
* When the leaves yellow in fall cut them back to 2 inches and remove the bulb from the pot.
* Store the bulb in a cool dark place (refrigerator crisper is ideal) for at least 6 weeks.
* Remove and repot 8 weeks before you want it to bloom again.
