What do you do with an amaryllis after it has finished blooming?

What do you do with an amaryllis after it has finished blooming?

After the flowers fade, cut off the flower stalk with a sharp knife. Make the cut 1 to 2 inches above the bulb. Don’t damage the foliage. In order for the bulb to bloom again next season, the plant must replenish its depleted food reserves.

How do you care for a potted amaryllis?

Water enough to keep the soil moist, and avoid wetting the portion of the bulb that is above the soil. Feed your amaryllis with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food every 7-14 days to promote reblooming. Keep your amaryllis in the sunniest spot you can find in your house. More sun will mean bigger blooms later.

How do you keep an amaryllis bulb after flowering?

Place the plant in a sunny window and water when the soil surface is nearly dry. Fertilize every 2 to 4 weeks with a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer. The amaryllis can be moved outdoors in late May or early June. Harden or acclimate the plant to the outdoors by initially placing it in a shady, protected area.

Can you leave amaryllis bulbs in the ground all year?

The bulbs will overwinter in the ground, ready to bloom in the spring. In cooler regions, you can also grow these flowers as annuals, and either lift the bulbs in fall for replanting the following spring or grow them in containers that can be overwintered in a frost-free location.

How long do amaryllis blooms last indoors?

2-3 weeks
Individual amaryllis flowers will generally last for 2-3 weeks. The flower spikes will grow three flowers, and most of the time those flowers will open at different times, extending the bloom time for several weeks.

Can you leave bulbs in pots after flowering?

You may keep the bulbs in pots after flowering, but it is a good idea to introduce some new soil with all its nutrients and fertilize again. You may also remove the bulbs, let them air dry, and put them in a paper bag in a location with the proper chilling requirements until you are ready to force them again.

How do I winterize my amaryllis?

Dig your bulb up and store it in a cool, dry, dark place (like a basement) for anywhere between 4 and 12 weeks. Amaryllis bulbs in winter go dormant, so they won’t need any water or attention. When you want to plant your bulb, place it in a pot not much bigger than the bulb, with its shoulders above the soil.

Can amaryllis be left outside in winter?

Once the chance of frost has passed, usually mid-April, you can plant the bulb outside. Plant the bulb outdoors the same way you planted it indoors, leaving 1/3 of the bulb above the ground.

How often should you water amaryllis?

Water your amaryllis on a regular weekly basis. The soil should remain moist. Turn the pot occasionally, to ensure that the stem stays straight, rather than reaching for the light and possibly becoming top-heavy as it grows. Look for a bloom after 4-8 weeks.

Do you water amaryllis from the top or bottom?

Water the potted bulb ONCE thoroughly, from top and bottom of the pot. Do not water regularly until new green growth appears at the top of the neck. If the soil dries out before that time, water no more than once per week, preferably from the bottom of the pot (see below).

Should I cut the leaves off my amaryllis?

You need to keep the leaves on the plant. Through photosynthesis, the leaves will work to recharge the bulb. The plant needs the energy stored in the bulb to produce a new flower next year. If you cut off the leaves, you’re weakening your plant.

How often should you water your amaryllis?

Can you leave bulbs in pots over winter?

If your winter is just too severe to risk leaving the bulbs out or you want to use bulbs in a container that can’t be stored in the cold, you have another option. Plant your bulbs in small 6-inch or 8-inch plastic pots and overwinter them under protection outdoors (in a cold frame, for instance) or in a cold garage.

What to do when bulbs stop flowering?

With true bulbs and corms, such as daffodils and tulips, you can cut off the dead leaves six weeks after flowering finishes. Wait until it is yellow, straw-like and no longer able to produce food for the bulb. Until this time, continue applying fertiliser and watering as above.