Did you know that amaryllis bulbs can bloom for years if you master how to plant and care for them properly indoors? If you’re looking to bring some bright, colorful flowers inside during the cold winter months, planting amaryllis bulbs indoors is one of the easiest and most rewarding projects you can take on.
There’s something magical about watching these bulbs transform from what looks like a dull, lifeless lump into a huge, vibrant bloom that’ll leave you feeling like you have a secret green thumb! And you don’t even need to be an expert gardener to get results, they’re a great beginner indoor plant.
Choosing the Right Amaryllis Bulb for Indoor Planting (Hippeastrum)
Amaryllis often come in a box as a gift around Christmas. Growing your amaryllis bulbs indoors from the boxed bulb is easy, you simply follow the instructions on how to plant them. Don’t be put off by a white tip or even signs that the bulb has started to grow without water in the box. This suggests that the plant is hardy.
When you’re selecting amaryllis bulbs for yourself, the first thing you’ll want to check is the firmness. A healthy bulb should feel firm to the touch, almost like a slightly underripe avocado: firm but with a tiny bit of give. If it feels squishy or mushy, that’s a clear sign it’s either rotting or has been stored improperly, and the bulb is unlikely to grow.
The bigger the bulb, the bigger the bloom. If you want those stunning 8-inch flowers, go for the largest bulbs you can find. The double-flowering varieties are a great option if you want something a bit more dramatic to take centre stage at home.
How to Pot Amaryllis Bulbs Indoors
Once you have your bulb it’s time to pot. Again, the Christmas amaryllis gift sets often come with a pot. When you open the box and see the size of the bulb you often think you need a new pot, but this isn’t the case. Amaryllis like to have a snug fit in their pot. A pot that’s about 1-2 inches wider than the bulb is perfect. Just be sure to make sure that there are drainage holes to prevents root and bulb rot. Amaryllis do not like soggy soil.
A basic potting mix is fine to plant amaryllis bulbs indoors, but the soil needs to drain well, adding some pertile is how you prevent your soil from compacted.
When you plant the bulb, leave the top third exposed above the soil. Amaryllis like their “heads” above the soil, helping prevent rot and giving them better access to light. Give it some water once potted.
It’s a good idea to add a stake or some kind of support early on, especially if you’re growing a larger variety. The blooms are heavy, and the stems can get pretty tall. Without the support it tends to all unexpectedly come crashing down.
Watering and Light Requirements for Indoor Amaryllis Bulbs
When you first plant the bulb, give it a good soak, but after that, don’t overdo it. Let the soil dry out between waterings, and don’t water again until the top inch feels dry.
The tricky part is finding the right balance. If you let it dry out completely, the bulb might struggle, but if you water too much, you’ll be dealing with rot. Once a week is about right, but always see if the soil feels wet before adding any more water to the pot.
Light requirements
These bulbs love the sun. You’ll want to put your pot in the brightest spot you can find in your home. If you have a south facing windowsill with direct sunlight for most of the day, this is where to put your amaryllis bulb indoors. If your home doesn’t get much natural light, you might want to consider using a grow light. The bulb will not grow very well at all without light.
Also rotate the pot every few days as it grows. The plant tends to lean toward the light, and if you don’t rotate it, you’ll end up with a crooked stem.
Amaryllis Growth Stages and Care Tips
Amaryllis can take a while to germinate, and for beginners this can be a little concerning, but you need to have patience. Depending on your bulb, you’ll usually start to see a little sprout within 2-8 weeks. Each bulb has its own timeline, which is why there is a 6 week scope.
When you do start to see growth, your amaryllis can start to grow pretty fast. The green stem can shoot up very fast. As your amaryllis grows, keep an eye on it. As it starts getting taller, you might need to adjust the support stake you added earlier. Stems can lean a bit too much toward the light, so giving them that extra support early saves them from snapping.
The blooming part is the real showstopper. The flowers usually last for around 3 weeks, so enjoy them while they’re around.
Once the blooms fade, don’t throw your plant out. It might look a little sad, but your amaryllis can bloom again next year if you look after it properly. That includes leaving it in the sun after the flower has bloomed.
How to Encourage Amaryllis to Bloom Again Next Year
The first thing you need to do after the flowers have faded is to cut the flower stalks back to about an inch from the top of the bulb. But it is important to leave the leaves alone. The leaves are still working hard to feed the bulb for next year’s bloom.
Water it like you normally would and give it plenty of sunlight. It’s a bit like solar charging your bulb for the future. Once you get to the end of summer, stop watering and let the leaves die off. Find a cool, dark place and put your amaryllis here for about 10 -12 weeks to let it rest. This dormant period is crucial if you want your amaryllis to bloom next year.
After that, you can bring it back to a sunny spot and start watering again. With a little luck and a bit of patience you’ll see new growth, and before you know it, you’ll be enjoying your amaryllis flowers next winter.
Common Issues with Indoor Amaryllis Bulbs
Just like any plant, amaryllis bulbs indoors can have issues which impact its growth, so you need to know how to spot the signs of common issues.
Amaryllis doesn’t bloom
Sometimes bulbs don’t bloom because they’re old or didn’t get enough time to rest during the dormant phase of their lifecycle. This can prevent flowers from forming and blooming. A lack of sunlight can also prevent your amaryllis from blooming too.
Yellowing leaves
If the leaves on your amaryllis start turning yellow, it could mean a few different things. Overwatering is one option, but it could also be a lack of nutrients, so be sure to fertilize every couple of weeks once the plant starts actively growing.
Weak / wobbly stem
If the stem seems weak or wobbly, it might not be getting enough light or is growing too fast. Make sure it’s in a sunny spot and give it some support with a stake. Sometimes the speed the plant grows leads to the stem becoming unstable.
Conclusion
Planting amaryllis bulbs indoors is such a rewarding way to add color to your home, especially during winter. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be growing them year after year for that perfect indoor winter bloom. From picking the right bulb to nurturing it through its dormant phase, the process is all about patience and a little bit of TLC.
