Amaryllis (Hippeastrum Herb.) are known for their tall stems and large, bold flowers. Some consider them holiday flowers, but you can enjoy them anytime. Next we will see how to propagate, grow amaryllis and all its care.
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Where to grow amaryllis
Amaryllis need plenty of light to flower, but it’s important to protect them from direct sunlight. Bright, filtered light is best.
Amaryllis is a tender bulb, so it should be grown indoors and protected from frost all winter. But once the frosts have passed and the nights are no longer cold, they can go outside until the end of summer.
How to Propagate Amaryllis
There are three ways to propagate amaryllis, the most common is by using “daughter bulbs”, which are removed from the host plant and replanted.
You can also divide the amaryllis bulb and plant the cuttings, this method is known as bulb sectioning or “cutting”.
Finally, amaryllis can be grown from seed. It is the most rewarding, but also the most difficult and time-consuming.
In this guide, we’ll specifically talk about the two bulb propagation modes, because it’s simply faster.
Grow Amaryllis from “daughter bulbs”
For plants grown outdoors, the best time to divide them is late winter or early spring. In the case of plants grown indoors, division is done in the fall.
Established plants will grow and produce staggered bulbs, which are like secondary bulbs compared to the primary.
They are often called bulbils or daughter bulbs because they are miniature bulbs that grow alongside parent bulbs.
If you see bulbils, you can cut them from the main bulb. All you need to do is use sharp scissors, a knife or any other tool you have at your disposal.
It cuts safely and smoothly with a clean cut. Each has its own roots. Do not damage them and leave them intact.
If there are several bulblets growing from the main plant, it is not necessary to separate them all. Just keep the good sized ones and separate them.
Now that you have a bulb, it’s time to replant it. Repot the bulb in a pot with balanced, well-drained potting soil. You can add peat moss if you have it and mix.
Grow Amaryllis from the bulb division
Amaryllis can also be divided by severing the bulb, which involves making cuts in the bulb.
Use a sharp knife and make vertical cuts from top to bottom of the bulb. You need to split it into at least 4 pieces, and each cut should contain a bit of everything from the original bulb. The cuts should each include the basal plate, a pair of scales, and the roots.
Use a high quality fungicide and apply it to the bulb. This will help stop and eliminate any risk of fungus infesting the plant.
Plant them in a small container with the same well-drained potting soil. Add perlite, stones or sand to improve drainage.
Also add soil all around. The bottom half should be covered and the top half exposed to the air.
Water regularly and keep the soil moist. Place the container in a sunny area and store it until early spring.
You will see new scales emerging from the bulblets and this means they are ready to be transplanted outdoors (after the last frost).
When can bulbs be divided?
Bulbs can be divided after they bloom in fall or early spring.
It also depends on whether you are growing them indoors or outdoors. Houseplants can be cut and divided in the fall.
But if you plant outdoors, you have until late winter or early spring when the new bulblets become visible and flowering is underway.
Amaryllis treatment
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Amaryllis needs rich, exceptionally well-drained compost, so create a mixture of 1 part well-rotted manure, 1 part horticultural sand or gravel, and 2 parts mulch.
Two parts good compost mixed with one part sand also works. Amaryllis tend to rot, so good drainage is essential.
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Food is essential. Use liquid fertilizer twice a month during flowering. After flowering is complete, continue feeding the plant for 6 weeks if you plan to store the bulb. See: How to Make Fertilizers and Liquid Organic Fertilizers.
Irrigation
The frequency of watering will depend on the time of year, as a general rule, in summer water two or three times a week, and in winter reduce watering to once a week or every ten days or so.
Once your amaryllis has grown, water from above with room temperature water and never allow the plant to sit in a saucer where water collects.
Continue to water the plant after it has finished flowering if you intend to keep the bulb.
tutored
Amaryllis are tall, heavy plants. Almost all varieties need to be trained or given some sort of support to keep them from tipping over. You can plant a cane in the pot and attach the stem to it.
Cut
As each flower fades, cut it individually, leaving the others to bloom.
When all the flowers on a stem are finished, cut the plant just above the bulb, another flowering stem or two should follow.
Make the amaryllis bloom again
Once flowering is complete, cut off old foliage, continue feeding and watering for 6 weeks, then move to a bright, cool location (about 13-15°C) for a period of 10 weeks.
After this time, move the amaryllis bulbs to a warm place and resume watering.
Once they are growing again, feed them a balanced compost to encourage flower production.
If the plants are placed in a warm place and watered again, they will flower in about 7-10 weeks.
Common issues
Why isn’t my amaryllis blooming?
Amaryllis need lots of light to flower. They should be kept out of direct light, but too much shade will affect flowering.
If there are no leaves or flowers, it could be a sign that too much water has caused the bulb to rot.
Or, if it is a consecutive year of growing the same bulb, it may not have stored enough energy during its dormant period to flower or it may not have received the right temperatures to start the formation or growth of flower buds.
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