With a little TLC, a well-cared-for Amaryllis will burst into bloom right on schedule in December. Those elegant, star-shaped flowers are the perfect way to set a festive holiday mood year after year. If you’re wondering how to keep yours happy and ensure those stunning blooms make an appearance, you’ve come to the right place!
Understanding Your Amaryllis’s Life Cycle
To give your Amaryllis the best care, you first need to understand its natural rhythm. These plants are perennials, meaning they don’t just “finish” once the flowers fade. Their life is divided into three main stages, each with its own set of needs:
- Flowering Phase: This usually runs from December through February.
- Growth Phase: This is when the plant gathers energy, lasting from March to August.
- Dormancy (Rest) Phase: A crucial recovery period from August to December.
Pro Tips for the Flowering Phase
To keep your “Knight’s Star” (as they’re sometimes called) looking its best while it’s showing off, here’s what you need to keep in mind:
Finding the Perfect Spot
The best location for a blooming Amaryllis is right inside your cozy home. Since these are subtropical plants, they crave light and warmth. One quick tip: be careful when airing out your house! During those chilly winter months, make sure to move your plant away from any icy drafts while the windows are open, or you might end up with frost damage.
Getting the Temperature Just Right
Amaryllis plants are pretty sensitive to the cold, so try to keep them in a spot that stays above 60°F (16°C). However, you can actually play with the temperature to control the blooms. If your plant is still in the bud stage and you’re impatient to see those flowers, keeping it in a room warmer than 68°F (20°C) will speed things up. Once it’s in full bloom, keeping it a bit cooler—between 64°F and 68°F (18-20°C)—will actually help the flowers last much longer.
Watering and Feeding Basics
When it comes to watering during the flowering stage, “less is more” is the golden rule. The plant doesn’t actually need much water right now, and it’s very easy to overdo it. Since the bulb is prone to rot if it sits in soggy soil, wait until the dirt feels dry to the touch before adding more. Pro tip: pour the water into the saucer or outer pot rather than over the bulb itself. This keeps the bulb dry and prevents mold.
As for food, while your Amaryllis is showing off its gorgeous petals, adding fertilizer will only make the green leaves grow like crazy. You’ll want to hold off on fertilizing until the growth phase starts in the spring. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
- Feed your plant every two weeks from April through August.
- Stop fertilizing entirely from September through March.
