I think everyone loves the magnificent blooms of the Amaryllis. Trumpet-shaped flowers are up to 9 inches across and displayed in shades of pink, white and deep Christmasy red. Amaryllis hybrids should be grown indoors in Canada and make spectacular potted plants that are sure to amaze. Amaryllis bulbs are easy to grow for yourself or as Christmas gifts.

Method:

Before planting, place the bulb and its roots in room-temperature water in a small bowl for up to 2 hours. This will rehydrate the roots of your dormant bulb and encourage it to begin growing.

Choose a pot only slightly larger than the bulb so that when it is planted it will have only about 1 inch of soil area between the bulb and the pot.

Put a small amount of soil in the bottom of the pot and then hold the bulb over the pot so that the roots can hang down into the pot. You want the roots to reach the bottom of the pot and not be bunched up just beneath the bulb. This is important for the support that your amaryllis will require as this enables the roots to anchor the plant to support the large blooms to are to come.

Gently ease some sterilized potting soil around the roots and the bulb leaving about one-third of the bulb exposed.

Water your planted bulb lightly and place it in a bright location near a window, with some direct sunlight, where you can watch it grow. You should not need to water your amaryllis again until it begins to sprout. *If you feel you must water do so very sparingly for the first few weeks until the bud and part of the stem have developed.

When green sprouts begin to show, you can water the plant more generously, turning the pot occasionally to keep the growth nice and straight. Keep in a warm sunny area and enjoy the blooms.

Shauna Lambeth ©

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