Hippeastrum (Amaryllis)

Temperature:
55-65 F

Flowers are breathtakingly beautiful, pure white through shades of pink and red, three to four huge 8-inch flowers to a stem that is about 2 feet tall. For February and March bloom, plant in late October; for summer bloom you can plant as late as March. If you want amaryllis flowers for Christmas, buy one of the prepared Dutch bulbs or a South African amaryllis that blooms naturally about December 25. Plant each bulb in fibrous loam (1 part each soil, sand, peat) in a pot large enough to allow about an inch of soil between bulb and pot wall.

Center a bulb in the pot, with one-third to one-half of the bulb protruding above the soil line. Water thoroughly once, sparingly thereafter until growth starts; then gradually increase water and move plant to a sunny place. Flower stem usually gets quite tall and flowers may open before foliage appears.

After bloom is finished, it is important to keep plants growing so bulbs will develop properly and make embryo flowers for next year. This is the time to water freely and fertilize about every two weeks until leaves show signs of dying down in late summer. Then gradually dry off plants and store pots in a cool but above-freezing place. Some bulbs will soon indicate that a new cycle is commencing; others must be started into growth in October or November by moving pots to warmer quarters and watering.