The amaryllis (Hippeastrum) is a real eye-catcher in your home or garden. Amaryllis are popular plants and are spectacularly effective due to their colour and size. Choose from 70 to 75 different varieties in a range of colours and shapes, with flower colours ranging from white to dark red and from striped to multi-coloured. The amaryllis is more than just beautiful; it's also very easy to bring them to bloom. Bakker.com has a wonderful range of plants for every season, from single and double flowers, as well as the well-known giant blooms in the most attractive colours.
Amaryllis plants in your home
Amaryllis bulbs can be planted as bulbs indoors in a flower pot filled with soil, or you can take a more unique approach and grow them in water or as a dry bulb. One advantage of planting the bulbs indoors is that they flower earlier than outdoor plants. That way you can bring a touch of spring into the house at Christmas time. Bringing an amaryllis bulb into bloom is child's play if you follow the steps listed below.
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Amaryllis bulbs in a pot
Amaryllis bulbs in a pot will flower very easily indoors. Choose an attractive flower pot, place a layer of pot shards or hydro grains at the bottom and fill with fresh potting soil. Position the Hippeastrum in the soil and make sure that around one-third of the bulb is exposed. Give it a bit of water immediately after planting (don't water the bulb itself) and place the flower pot in a bright, warm spot. Water sparingly until the bulb starts to sprout, then give slightly more water and feed occasionally. Amaryllis will flower for longer in a cool room.
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Amaryllis bulbs in water
Place the flower bulb in a special amaryllis glass so the bulb is suspended just above the water. Then place the Hippeastrum in the glass in a bright and warm spot in the living room straight away. Keep the water level approximately the same and change the water when it looks cloudy.
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Amaryllis as a dry bulb
Amaryllis bulbs have so much vitality that they can also flower very easily as a dry flower bulb in the living room, without any water or soil! If necessary, put the bulbs in a bucket of water overnight before you use them and then put them in a beautiful bowl. Moisten the flower bulb occasionally with a plant spray to keep the outer membranes looking attractive.
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Amaryllis as a dry, waxed bulb
The unique waxed amaryllis bulbs are covered in a decorative layer of wax and are available in a range of attractive colours. The flower bulb will produce beautiful flowers without needing any water or soil. Simply place the waxed bulb in a prominent spot in your home. Depending on how warm it is, it can bloom from three to six weeks.
Planting amaryllis in the garden
Amaryllis are also an imposing presence in the garden. Plant the bulbs between October and April so you can enjoy the wonderful flowers in May and June. Watch out for ground frosts when you plant the bulbs. Amaryllis bulbs cannot tolerate frost at all, so it is best to plant them after the risk of frosts has passed. If you want to plant them earlier, put them in a pot so you can bring them indoors if necessary. Choose a sheltered and sunny spot and plant the flower bulb with the roots pointing downwards. Make sure that around one-third of the flower bulb is poking out of the soil and space the bulbs around 30 cm apart. Give it a bit of water right after planting, but don't water the bulb itself. No garden? The flower bulbs also do well in a large flower pot or planter.
Storing amaryllis
Storing amaryllis and getting them to flower again every year can be tricky, but it is possible with a little care and attention. Start by removing the spent flowers before they set seed, as seed production saps the bulb's strength. Once the plant has flowered, it has to keep growing. Encouraging this means the amaryllis leaves can continue to develop and store nutrition in the bulb. This ensures that a new bud can be formed. Make sure that the potting soil is damp but not too wet and give the amaryllis indoor plant food once every two weeks. Leave the plant to grow for eight months at a temperature of around 20°C. You must wait until after the summer, when the leaves die off, before stopping watering. Then move the plant to a cool spot (7–16°C) with moderate light, for around ten weeks. You can then put the flower bulb back in a warmer place and start to water it again carefully. Replace the top layer of soil with fresh potting soil. Repot the Hippeastrum at least once every three years. Follow this approach to maximise your chances of successfully storing amaryllis. Would you rather save yourself the trouble? Then simply buy new and beautiful amaryllis every year!
