Bulbs can be planted immediately upon receival. Amaryllises are perishable live plants and will start to grow if you leave them at room temperatureAmaryllises are perishable live plants and will start to grow if you leave them at room temperature.
We recommend a good sized pot for planting your Amaryllis so you can keep about 2 inches of room on the sides. The container may be clay, ceramic or plastic, but should have drainage holes in the bottom. Fill the container halfway with damp potting mix. Don't pack down the soil as you go. Only filling halfway makes it easier to place the bulb at the right height.
Take care of your giant Amaryllis in just four easy-to-follow steps:
1. Water the pot thoroughly before planting your bulb in it. If you are planting a bulb then this is an important step. Amaryllises don't require a lot of water, however, they do need access to water so that the bulb can feed itself and bloom into a beautiful flower. This doesn't take a lot of time, but it is an important step with most store-bought options.
2. Make sure the bulb has access to natural light but it can be indirect sunlight, and only for a few hours a day. This means you can put your Amaryllis bulb in a part of your house that's far from a window, and it will still bloom. The same goes in the bedroom, dorm room, or office.
Just natural light access will do, and it only needs a few hours of the day to get its energy from. A giant Amaryllis can grow up to six feet tall in just one flower stem! It looks stunning when grown outdoors in full sunlight, but you can also keep your giant Amaryllis indoors if you have the right space.
3. Turn the bulb occasionally to help it grow straight. Due to how a giant Amaryllis grows and blooms it may lean into the direction of where it gets its sunlight. If you rotate your plant once in a while it will grow straight and not be leaning to the side. This rotation can be a simple turn every few days, or you can even move the plant as the light changes in your home or office.
4. Trim the stem after the bulbs have bloomed, opened, and withered a bit. Once your giant Amaryllis bulb has started the aging process post-bloom, it's time to do some trimming. Trimming the stem is a fun way to make giant Amaryllis care a little more manageable. This step will help lift the bulb up and out of its pot, making it easier for you to water giant amaryllis flowers.
The amaryllis will bloom in 6 to 8 weeks after being moved into a bright room with indirect light. Some can take as long as ten weeks (they are worth waiting for!)
Tip: If you have more than one Amaryllis, label so you’ll remember the variety name!
Be careful not to expose the bulbs to freezing conditions. Click here for our Step by Step planting instructions with pictures.
