After those chilly months of winter dormancy, your Amaryllis is ready for a little TLC. A quick trim and a move into some fresh, nutrient-rich soil are exactly what your bulb needs to gear up for another round of stunning blooms. Here’s the lowdown on how to get it right without the stress.
Repotting Your Amaryllis: Tips and Tricks
If you want your Amaryllis to put on a real show, you can’t just wing it. The secret sauce to a happy plant is picking the right pot and getting the soil mix just right.
Keep these pro-tips in mind:
- Give it some breathing room: Choose a pot that leaves about two inches of space between the bulb and the rim.
- Drainage is key: Make sure your pot has a hole at the bottom so excess water can make a quick exit.
- The perfect mix: Your bulb wants soil that’s both rich and well-draining. A blend of organic and mineral components is the way to go.
In their South American homeland, these beauties grow in loose soil with just a bit of humus and plenty of inorganic material. To mimic this at home, I recommend a 50/50 mix of standard potting soil and cactus mix. It works like a charm!
Making the Move
About eight weeks before you want those flowers to pop, it’s time to bring your Amaryllis out of its “winter nap” in the basement and back into the warmth of your home. Gently pull the bulb out of its old pot and brush off the spent soil.
Here’s your step-by-step guide:
- To keep the roots from getting soggy, place some broken terracotta shards or pebbles over the drainage hole.
- Fill the pot about halfway with your soil mixture.
- Set the bulb right in the center. You want it sitting high—only about half of the bulb should be buried in the soil.
- Press the soil down firmly and give it a light watering from the bottom. This keeps the exposed part of the bulb dry and prevents rot.
Before you tuck it into its new home, take a pair of clean kitchen shears and snip away any dried-out or mushy roots. Once it’s potted, find a bright, warm spot (around 68°F) for it to live. It won’t be long before you see those first green shoots peeking out!
One Last Pro-Tip
Don’t have a basement for winter storage? No worries! From September to early November, you can just move your Amaryllis to a cool, unheated room and pop an upside-down pot over it to keep it in the dark. It’ll get the rest it needs just the same!
