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With care, amaryllis will bloom for years

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This column is written by members of the Lycoming County Master Gardeners.)

Q: What should I do with my amaryllis once it is done blooming?

A: Have you given or received an amaryllis as a holiday gift? Amaryllis produce huge trumpet-shaped flowers that are stunning. They come in red, scarlet, pink, white, salmon, apricot, and some are bicolored.

As an added bonus, they are easy to grow and inexpensive. They will bloom for several weeks if they are kept out of direct sunlight. Since the blooms are large and heavy, they may need to be staked to stay upright.

The big problem comes when the plant stops blooming. Unfortunately, many people don’t know how to care for their amaryllis, and it winds up getting thrown away. This is sad because an amaryllis can produce years of gorgeous blooms.

My mom had a bright red amaryllis that she had planted in a redwood planter. It bloomed beautifully every year and, as time went on, the bulbs multiplied.

It actually is easy to care for an amaryllis and to get it to bloom again. After the flowers have faded, cut them off, but keep the flower stalk in place until it turns yellow.

Once the flowers are gone, you should put the amaryllis in the brightest location possible in your home. Water it from the top and remove excess water that drains from the pot to prevent the bulb from rotting. Fertilize the plant regularly.

When the danger of frost has passed, put the plant outside in a shady location.

Gradually, move it into the sun until it is in an area that gets at least six hours of full sun per day. At that time, sink the pot right into the soil and fertilize on a monthly basis.

Since amaryllis are tropical plants, it is very important to bring them in before the first fall frost.

Amaryllis do not need a rest period to bloom if you keep them green. They will bloom again when they feel like it.

However, if you want to control when your plant will bloom, you can force your amaryllis. Giving the plant a rest does this.

When you bring it in from outside in the fall, store the amaryllis in a cool, dark place such as a basement or closet. Do not water the plant and do not remove the leaves until they have dried up and shriveled. In eight to 12 weeks, new growth should appear and the amaryllis needs to be watered and put in bright light.

Flowers then develop in four to six weeks.

In some cases, new growth does not appear after a 12-week rest. In that case, put the pot in bright light and water. That should get it to bud.

An interesting characteristic of amaryllis is that they bloom best when they are pot-bound. They only need repotted every three or four years and the pot should just be slightly larger than the bulb.

It is important that the bulb be positioned so that about half of it is above the soil.

Congratulations to those of you who got an amaryllis as a holiday gift. If you didn’t, don’t despair. It is likely you will be able to find one on a holiday clearance rack.

Lehman, of South Williamsport, is in this year’s class of Master Gardeners and just finished her requirements to become an official Master Gardener. She learned to love gardening from her mother who was a passionate gardener.

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