It breaks my heart to see a wilted (but totally healthy) Amaryllis tossed into the compost bin—what a waste! When your Amaryllis finishes blooming and starts pushing out fresh green leaves, it’s actually telling you how much life it still has left. With just a little TLC, you can get that bulb to bounce back year after year.
Here’s my guide on how to treat your Amaryllis right so it rewards you with those stunning blooms again next season.
Pro Tips for a Bloom Revival
When an Amaryllis stops blooming, it definitely loses some of that “wow factor” we love during the winter months. Keep in mind that producing those massive, colorful flowers takes a ton of energy out of the bulb. However, if you play your cards right, your plant can live and bloom for many years to come.
Follow these steps to motivate your plant for its next big show:
Snip Off the Wilted Blooms
Once the flowers have faded and shriveled, you’ll want to carefully remove them. You can either cut the entire flower stalk off near the base or just trim the spent blooms themselves. Whatever you do, don’t let the plant develop seed pods! Producing seeds drains the bulb’s energy, and we want all that power saved up for future flowers.
Find a Bright, Toasty Spot
To get back into blooming shape, your Amaryllis needs to recharge. It grows new leaves specifically to soak up sunlight and create nutrients through photosynthesis. To help it along, move your plant to a warm, bright spot. A sunny windowsill with temperatures between 68°F and 72°F (20-22°C) is the sweet spot for growth.
Master the Watering and Feeding Routine
Now is the time to water regularly and start mixing a little liquid fertilizer into lukewarm water. Always water from the top, and make sure to empty any excess water from the saucer after about five minutes. You want the soil to stay consistently moist, but never soggy. Amaryllis bulbs are super sensitive to “wet feet” (root rot), so don’t overdo it!
Give It a Summer Vacation Outdoors
Once the weather stays warm and there’s no risk of frost, your Amaryllis will love a trip to the balcony or garden. Getting that extra dose of natural sunlight outdoors is like a spa retreat for the plant—it’s exactly what it needs to store up enough energy for a spectacular comeback next season.
