How to plant, care for, and grow your amaryllis.

Part 2

If you missed Part 1, check it out here.

How to plant amaryllis.

Do you have an amaryllis bulb? No pot and no container but just the bulb?

Steps 1-5 are instructions on how to plant your bare amaryllis bulb. 

1. Not completely necessary, but a practice that I like to do. Take your amaryllis bulb and soak the roots in warm water overnight in a shallow pan. Do NOT submerge the bulb, just the roots. 

2. Find your favorite pot and container. Does your pot have drainage holes? Or is it solid? If it has drainage holes, place a coffee filter over the drainage hole. If it does not have drainage holes, I like to put a little bit of gravel at the bottom of the pot to help with drainage, but it is unnecessary. 

3. Fill your pot halfway or at least three to four inches deep with premoistened potting soil. 

4. Nestle the bulb into the dirt, leaving at least 1/3 of the bulb showing. Add dirt accordingly. 

5. Place your pot in a warm, bright place. After several weeks you should see the bulb send-up shoots. Wait to water it until it starts growing. 

Steps 6 through 10 - how to care for and continue to grow your amaryllis. 

6. Keep growing your amaryllis in a bright spot and turn daily to keep the stem growing straight. I often forget this step, and my amaryllis is fine. Water as needed. Probably every couple of weeks. 

7. Once your amaryllis starts blooming, you may move it to any spot away from direct sunlight. Direct sunlight will cause the blooms to fade faster. 

8. As the flowers fade, cut them off. You want your bulb to spend energy itself rather than on the blooms once they fade. 

9. Be patient. Your bulb may send up more stems. 

10. Once the flower stalk is bloomed, cut it down to the base with sharp scissors.