How to Grow Amaryllis
A simple guide to growing vibrant winter blooms indoors
Every fall, when the fields start to fade and the first frosts arrive, I turn to indoor flowers. Growing amaryllis bulbs in pots has become a small ritual - a way to bring brightness into the house when the garden has gone quiet. Their tall, architectural stems and bold blooms make them feel almost tropical, even when it’s snowing outside.
Choosing Your Bulbs
Start with healthy, large bulbs — size matters here. Bigger bulbs (usually labeled 34/36 cm or 36/+) produce more stems and flowers. The variety you choose will determine both color and bloom shape:
‘Evergreen’ — soft lime-green, spider-like blooms
‘Rilona’ — warm apricot-salmon petals
‘Pink Surprise’ — vibrant pink with magenta veining
‘Alfresco’ — creamy white double blooms
‘Ragtime’ — fiery red-orange doubles
Each one offers a different mood, but all share the same reliable growing habits.
How to Plant Amaryllis Bulbs
Choose a pot that’s about 1–2 inches wider than the bulb on all sides and has good drainage. A heavy pot helps balance the tall stems once they bloom.
Add well-draining soil. A mix of potting soil, perlite, and a bit of compost works well.
Position the bulb so the top one-third to one-half sits above the soil line. This helps prevent rot and mimics how they grow naturally.
Water lightly after planting — just enough to moisten the soil.
Light, Temperature & Water
Place your pot in a bright, warm spot with indirect sunlight — around 60–75°F is ideal. A sunny windowsill is perfect, but avoid harsh, direct sun.
Water sparingly until you see new growth. Once the leaves or flower stalks appear, water regularly, keeping the soil slightly moist but never soggy.
If you want to speed things up, providing a little bottom heat (like a seedling mat or warm spot near a radiator) can encourage faster sprouting.
Feeding & Supporting
As soon as the stalks start growing, feed your plant with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2–4 weeks. This helps support large, long-lasting blooms.
Tall flower stalks can get top-heavy — especially with double-blooming varieties — so don’t hesitate to use a stake or small bamboo support.
After the Blooms
When the flowers fade, snip off the spent blooms but leave the stalk and foliage in place. The leaves continue photosynthesizing, sending energy back into the bulb for next year’s growth.
Once the leaves yellow and die back naturally, reduce watering and let the bulb rest. Store it in a cool, dark place (around 50°F) for 8–12 weeks. After its rest period, it’s ready to start again — repot, water lightly, and wait for new growth to emerge.
Tips for Timing Blooms
Amaryllis usually bloom 8–12 weeks after planting, so plan your timing around the season. For holiday blooms, plant in late October or early November. For midwinter color, start new pots every few weeks for a continuous display through February.
Why I Love Growing Amaryllis
Amaryllis bulbs are forgiving and rewarding — even a beginner can coax them into bloom. They bring the garden indoors at a time when color feels scarce. I like to line them up on a windowsill, each at a different stage of growth, watching the stems stretch taller every day.
They remind me that even in winter, there’s still something growing.
