Re-Blooming Amaryllis
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These Amaryllis bulbs are reblooming at my house this year, see the bud? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
”Charlotte help, I was gifted an Amaryllis bulb last year but I can’t seem to get it to re-bloom for Christmas. Is there a special trick?” - Amy
Re-Blooming Amaryllis
Hi Amy,
Congratulations on keeping your Amaryllis bulb alive for a year. Amaryllis may be the second most popular holiday gift plants behind Poinsettias and Thanksgiving cactus, often mislabelled as Christmas cactus. Although these are relatively easy bulbs to keep going, I know a number of people who killed theirs off after getting them for holiday gifts.
Amaryllis bulb leaves collecting sun and storing the energy in bulbs. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
There is a “trick” to getting Amaryllis bulbs to re-bloom.
First, once they do bloom, you need to let the leaves grow. The leaves are solar collectors, gathering sunshine to store as energy in the bulbs. The leaves can remain on the bulb for many months. I still have a large pot of Amaryllis bulbs still growing leaves (see photo above)
Once the danger of frost is over late spring, I move my bulbs outside to a shady area so that they can continue to collect sunshine.
When the leaves die off on their own, here’s the second key step: don’t water for a couple of months.
I have removed the bulbs out of their pots and saved them in a brown bag. I have also just left them sit in their pots without getting watered so do whatever fits your schedule.
If you bag the bulbs, you can then re-pot and water for when you want them to bloom.
Regardless of whether in a bag or pot, check them periodically for any signs of growth.
If you leave them in pots, then start watering after 8 weeks of a dry spell.
I find it easier to leave mine in their pots. I will remove the bulbs and either repot in new soil or add soil to make sure only their roots are covered. You want the bulb to be sitting on top of the soil.
Make sure your potted Amaryllis roots are covered in soil. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
As you re-grow your Amaryllis, you may see little shoots to the sides of the bulbs. Those are baby Amaryllis growing off the mother bulb.
I leave those for several years until they are at least one-inch wide before I remove the baby bulb and plant it on its own. Something to look forward to doing!
This little side growth is a new Amaryllis bulb. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
Now not all Amaryllis bulbs will re-bloom the first year. If when you water your bulb and you only get leaves, that means the bulb did not collect enough energy to re-bloom.
Don’t get discouraged. Give your bulb water with fertilizer and place in indirect sun so the leaves can help rebuild the stored bulb energy. Once the leaves die off, let the bulbs rest for a couple of months and start to water.
These Amaryllis bulbs are growing again but not re-blooming, they need to collect more sun. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
So this year, this pot of 3 Apple Blossom Amaryllis may bloom around Christmas. I have them sitting in the pass through from my kitchen, where I’ve enjoyed watching them grow every day.
The tallest stem is 25 inches tall so I will be staking that shortly. Once the flowers bloom, they may cause the stem to bend with their weight.
Apple Blossom Amaryllis bulbs getting ready to bloom (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
All three bulbs have buds now so these three Amaryllis bulbs were able to collect enough energy to re-bloom.
And so what’s all the fuss about?
Take a look at what these Amaryllis bulbs look in bloom.
Amaryllis Apple Blossom in bloom, these flowers can be 12 inches wide. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
Amaryllis bulbs come in a variety of colors and shapes. The more common ones are Lions King and Apple Blossom, which I personally like.
Lovely way to celebrate the holidays!
