Amaryllis flowers are rather iconic at Christmas time. They are a popular flower to grow in the winter and many people now associate their blooms with the Christmas season. In fact, one species of amaryllis is known as the Christmas amaryllis, and within this there are various different types of flower, including the Charisma, Picotee, Benfica, Apple Blossom, Terracotta Star and Minerva. All of these amaryllis bulbs can be grown to flower specifically for Christmas if this is when you would like your blooms to appear. You just need to make sure they are given the right conditions, and then you can enjoy your amaryllis and allow them to brighten up your home during the festive season.
How to grow amaryllis bulbs for Christmas
If you are going to successfully grow amaryllis from bulb and make them flower when desired, here are some important steps to follow:
- Plant the bulb in early to mid November. This will give it around 6-8 weeks in which to grow and flower, which is generally the perfect amount of time for an amaryllis. The timing is critical if you want to enjoy Christmas flowering.
- Make sure the bulb has the right conditions to grow and flower. Whilst an amaryllis is not an especially hard flower to grow, it will need to be given the right conditions if you want it for a certain time of year. You will need to use a pot that is the right size – as a general rule, it should be around 2 inches bigger than the bulb if you are just planting the one. The pot should be a high quality one that will offer good drainage to your bulbs.
- It will need to be kept at the right temperature. The bulb will need to be at around 65° in order to start growing, and it will have to be kept at this temperature constantly. Make sure you place your bulbs somewhere warm, such as above a radiator, as this will help them to continue growth. Heat from the sun will also help.
- Treat the bulb before planting. You will need to soak the bulbs before you plant them, placing the roots and lower part of the bulb in slightly warm water. Leave it there for 24 hours before you plant it.
- Use the right soil. Amaryllis will need a loamy soil, preferably with leaf mould as well. You can also add sand to make sure it is porous enough.
- Plant the bulb in the right way. Make sure you spread the roots out, and leave the top part of the bulb coming out the top of the soil.
- Look after your bulbs once planted. Don’t water them too much, after a thorough initial watering to bed them in. Keep the soil slightly moist but make sure it isn’t damp, then once the amaryllis begins to grow, you can start to water it a little bit more.
If you look after your amaryllis well, they can continue to flower again in the future and you can always enjoy a Christmas amaryllis.