How to Get an Amaryllis to Bloom

Jeanne Grunert
by Jeanne Grunert
Did you get an amaryllis bulb kit around Christmastime? If so, you're probably sad that the beautiful flower is long gone. Many people give up on their amaryllis bulbs and throw out the plant once it's done flowering. However, you can get your amaryllis to bloom again. It might not be in time for the holidays (unless you time it very carefully). But holidays or not, it's fun to to see your plant bloom again, and who doesn't love a beautiful amaryllis flower? Here's how to get your amaryllis to bloom an encore this year!
First, a word about growing amaryllis. You can typically find kits at nursery and garden centers starting in November. Most amaryllis are sold as holiday plants. Each kit includes a bulb, like the one shown below, a pot and a potting mixture. This one came with a mix called coir, which is made from coconut shell husks. Follow the directions to plant your amaryllis correctly and make sure it gets plenty of sunlight. Turn the pot a quarter turn each day to help it grow straight and tall.
Each plant produces one or more buds from the central stem. The other leaves should be allowed to grow to produce food for the plant. Once your amaryllis has flowered, wait until the flowers die back naturally, then snip them off with scissors. Keep the plant in a bright, sunny location. Keep it well watered. It will continue to grow like a house plant, developing next year's flower inside the bulb.
About 10 to 12 weeks before you hope to coax your amaryllis into flowering again, stop watering it. I know this is going to feel really mean, but trust me, it works. Let the leaves die off. My amaryllis, above, died all the way back except for one leaf...and then I started watering it again. In weeks two and three, I gave it a little 10-10-10 liquid house plant fertilizer while watering it. Now there is a new flower developing from the center!! In about 4 weeks I should see my amaryllis blooming again.
Jeanne Grunert
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  2 questions
  • Bernadette Bernadette on Mar 03, 2018

    Hi. Bought a already planted bulb. I have beautiful leaves. They are about 2 ft high. Started growing it around Jan. Here it is March and still no flower shoots. What am I doing wrong? Live in northern Az.

  • Connie.flores Connie.flores on Jul 14, 2020

    I have one in water, long leaves about 2ft long, will it flower again or should I plant it in dirt?

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  • Myb29438283 Myb29438283 on Sep 29, 2018

    I received bulbs for Xmas when finished flowering I planted in ground, I live in Florida, now I have many many amaryllis . They have spread like ground over. And bloom several times a year.

  • Sue Sue on May 08, 2021

    hi

    I have my bulb now for 4 years and I don't see any bloom.it makes big leaves. now there is a lot of bulbs but no flowers. I don't know what I am doing wrong I remember my grandma had one. she was in tropical aria. her amaryllis was huge and full of flowers.

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