Amaryllis are a popular holiday plant because when potted indoors, they tend to bloom around Christmas. Plus, the red variety adds some festive color to any room.
While their blooms fade after holidays, the plant’s life is far from over. In fact, if cared for properly, amaryllis can bloom over and over.
All About Amaryllis
Amaryllis are true bulbs in the genus Hippeastrum, which includes about 100 different species native to Central and South America. Most of the amaryllis that we grow in our homes around the holidays are hybrids of these species. They are grown for their showy blooms that come in a wide variety of shapes and colors. Red, pink, and white are the most common colors.
Getting Your Amaryllis to Rebloom
The experts at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Center for Home Gardening say amaryllis are one of the easiest winter-blooming houseplants to grow and reliably rebloom. They offer the following tips:
- Once all the flowers are done blooming, the flowering stalk can be cut off at the base. Leaves will then start to grow from the bulb. It is very important to not cut these leaves off.
- Place your amaryllis in a warm, sunny location, such as a south-facing window, so the leaves can start gathering energy for next year’s blooms.
- Water and fertilize as you would any other houseplant.
- Once the danger of frost has passed in spring, potted amaryllis bulbs can be moved outdoors to get extra sun and warmth. Amaryllis can also be kept indoors year-round as long as they get plenty of light.
- In the fall, plants should be allowed to enter a dormant resting period. Reduce watering during this time.
- Cooler temperatures are also key to dormancy. But amaryllis are not tolerant of freezing temperatures, so make sure to bring them inside a garage or basement where they will not fully freeze. After around two months, you can move the pot back into a warm, sunny location and resume watering to trigger blooming.
- If your amaryllis starts growing offsets, these can be separated and potted up in their own container in the spring.
Amaryllis are a rewarding houseplant to grow, and its blooms are certain to bring you joy year after year. For more information on growing amaryllis both indoors and outdoors, check out these additional tips.
Catherine Martin
Public Information Officer