Good amaryllis care is simple: pot the bulb in a container 1 to 2 inches wider than the bulb with the top third above the soil, water sparingly until a shoot appears, then give it a bright window at 65 to 70°F. Plant 8 to 10 weeks before Christmas for holiday flowers. To rebloom it, keep the leaves growing all summer, then give the bulb 8 to 12 weeks cool and dry in fall.
Few plants give you so much drama for so little work. A bulb the size of a grapefruit goes into a pot, a fat green stalk shoots up, and a few weeks later you have trumpet flowers 6 to 10 inches across in the darkest part of the year.
Amaryllis (botanically Hippeastrum) is also a long-lived bulb. With a little summer care, the same bulb can bloom again next winter and for many winters after. Here is how to do both.
- Light
- Bright, direct to indirect
- Water
- Sparingly until growth, then when top inch is dry
- Temperature
- 65–70°F (18–21°C); 60–65°F (16–18°C) in bloom
- Soil
- Fast-draining potting mix
- Bloom time
- 6–10 weeks after planting
- Pet safety
- Toxic to cats & dogs (ASPCA)
Choosing amaryllis bulbs
With amaryllis, bigger really is better. Bulbs are sold by circumference in centimeters, and size roughly predicts the number of flower stalks: a 26 to 28 cm bulb usually gives 1 or 2 stalks, while 30 cm and up often gives 2 or 3. Each stalk carries 2 to 6 flowers.
Pick bulbs that feel firm and heavy, like a good onion, with no soft spots or mold. Dry outer skins are normal, and roots already showing at the base are a good sign. Reliable classics include ‘Red Lion’ (deep red), ‘Minerva’ (red and white stripes) and ‘Apple Blossom’ (pink and white).
How to pot an amaryllis bulb
Amaryllis like a snug pot, only 1 to 2 inches wider than the bulb. Choose a heavy ceramic or terracotta pot, because a top-heavy plant in flower tips a light plastic one easily, and make sure it has a drainage hole.
- Soak dry-looking roots in lukewarm water for a few hours.
- Add potting mix so the bulb will sit with its top third (up to half) above the soil.
- Set the bulb in and firm the mix around it, leaving an inch below the rim for watering.
- Water once, thoroughly, and let it drain.
Water sparingly until growth starts
This is where most bulbs get into trouble. Until a green shoot is about 2 inches tall, water only when the soil is quite dry, roughly every week or two. A bulb with no leaves uses very little water, and soggy soil invites rot. Once the stalk and leaves are growing, water whenever the top inch of soil is dry.
Never let the pot sit in water. Empty the saucer after watering. If a gift kit came in a pot with no drainage hole, water very lightly or move the bulb into a pot that drains.
When to plant amaryllis for Christmas
Most Dutch-grown amaryllis bloom 6 to 10 weeks after planting, depending on variety and room temperature. For Christmas flowers, plant in early to mid October. Bulbs planted in late October or early November usually bloom around New Year’s, and a bulb potted in early December is a lovely Valentine’s Day show. For flowers all winter, plant a new bulb every two weeks.
The timing is the same in the UK and Canada, where amaryllis are grown indoors. In much of Australia, hippeastrums grow outdoors and flower naturally in late spring and early summer, right around November and December.
Warmth speeds it up, cool slows it down. At 70 to 75°F (21 to 24°C) a bulb can bloom a week or two early. If buds look set to open too soon, move the pot somewhere at 60 to 65°F (16 to 18°C) to hold them back.
Light, rotating and staking
Give it your brightest window
Once the shoot is up, move the pot to the brightest window you have, ideally south or west in winter. Weak light makes long, floppy stalks. In a dark home, a grow light helps a lot; see our picks of the best grow lights for houseplants.
Turn the pot every few days
The stalk grows fast and leans toward the light. A quarter turn every day or two keeps it straight.
Stake tall stalks
Stalks can reach 18 to 24 inches with heavy flowers on top. When the stalk is about 10 inches tall, push a slim stake into the soil beside the bulb (not through it) and tie it loosely in one or two places.
Making the flowers last
Flowers usually last 2 to 3 weeks, longer if you keep them cool. Once buds show color, move the plant out of direct sun to a room at 60 to 65°F (16 to 18°C), away from radiators and heating vents. Snip off the yellow pollen-covered anthers as flowers open, and pinch off faded blooms.
Waxed amaryllis bulbs
Waxed amaryllis are bulbs dipped in colored wax that flower with no water and no soil, usually within 4 to 8 weeks in a bright, warm spot. The catch: the wax seals off the roots, so the bulb cannot refill its reserves. Treat them as lovely one-season decorations.
After the flowers fade
This step decides whether you get flowers next year.
- Cut the flower stalk 1 to 2 inches above the bulb once it starts to yellow. Do not cut the leaves.
- Keep it in the sunniest window and water when the top inch is dry. The leaves are now refilling the bulb.
- Feed every 2 to 4 weeks with a balanced houseplant fertilizer at half strength.
How to rebloom amaryllis
Summer: grow the leaves outdoors
Once nights stay above about 50°F (10°C), move the pot outside to a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade, easing it into brighter light over a week. Keep watering and feeding through July. Big, healthy leaves mean a big bulb.
Fall: 8 to 12 weeks cool and dry
In late August or September, bring the pot in before frost and stop watering. Store it somewhere dark at 45 to 55°F (7 to 13°C), like a basement or a cool garage that never freezes. Cut the leaves off once they wither, and leave the bulb to rest for 8 to 12 weeks.
Winter: wake it up
Move the pot to a warm, bright room, replace the top inch of soil with fresh mix (repot every 2 to 3 years, still keeping it snug) and water once. A stalk usually appears within a few weeks and flowers 4 to 8 weeks later.
Why won’t my amaryllis bloom?
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves only, no flower stalk | Rest too short or too warm | Give 8 to 12 weeks dry at 45–55°F |
| No flowers the year after buying | Bulb not refed after blooming | Grow the leaves all summer in sun; feed every 2–4 weeks |
| Short stalk, few flowers | Small or tired bulb | Feed and grow in full sun for a season; buy 28 cm+ bulbs |
| Bulb soft and mushy | Overwatering, rot | Water sparingly until growth; use a pot with drainage |
| Floppy stalk that falls over | Low light, too warm | Brightest window, turn the pot, stake early |
| Bud dries up before opening | Too dry or too hot | Water when top inch is dry; keep away from heaters |
Planting amaryllis outside
In USDA zones 8 to 10, amaryllis can live in the garden year-round. Plant in spring in well-drained soil with morning sun and light afternoon shade, with the neck of the bulb at or just above soil level and about 12 inches apart. Outdoors they flower in spring rather than winter and form bigger clumps each year. In colder zones, treat them as summer pot plants.
An amaryllis kit is also one of the best holiday gifts for someone who “can’t keep plants alive.” For more ideas, see our Christmas plant gifts list, and if a poinsettia is coming home too, our poinsettia care guide keeps it looking good into the new year.
Everything you need for amaryllis
Prices change often, so check the store for today's price.Longfield Gardens Amaryllis Red Lion Bulbs (28/30 cm, 3-pack)
Big, top-size bulbs from a well-known US bulb seller. ‘Red Lion’ is the classic deep red Christmas amaryllis with huge velvety flowers, and 28/30 cm bulbs often send up more than one stalk. Three bulbs let you stagger planting for weeks of flowers.
- Large bulbs for more flowers
- Classic Christmas red
- Three bulbs for staggered planting
- Rebloom well with summer care
- Downside: Bulbs only, so you need pots and mix
- Downside: Ships in late fall, so order early
How to use it: Pot one bulb in early October, one in late October and one in November.
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Van Zyverden Amaryllis Kit with Artisan Decorative Planter
A boxed kit with a bulb, growing medium and a decorative planter, in classic varieties like ‘Red Lion’ and striped ‘Minerva’. Ready to wrap and give.
- Everything included
- Gift-ready box
- Pretty planter
- Downside: Smaller bulb than a top-size loose bulb
- Downside: Check the pot for drainage and water lightly
How to use it: Plant it as soon as you open the box, water once, then wait for the shoot before watering again.
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Bloomaker Waxed Amaryllis Bulb
Bloomaker makes the best-known waxed amaryllis, in colors from red and white to gold and glitter. No soil, no watering, just flowers in a few weeks.
- No watering at all
- No mess, no pot
- Festive colors
- Downside: One season only
- Downside: Cannot rebloom easily
How to use it: Set it in a bright spot away from heaters and turn it every couple of days.
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Ceramic planter with drainage hole and saucer (6 to 7 in.)
A heavy glazed pot keeps a tall, flowering amaryllis from tipping, and the drainage hole protects the bulb from rot. Six to seven inches suits most bulbs; go 8 inches for very large ones.
- Heavy base resists tipping
- Drainage prevents rot
- Looks smart for the holidays
- Downside: Ceramic can chip
- Downside: Measure your bulb first
How to use it: Choose a pot 1 to 2 inches wider than the bulb and fill with fast-draining potting mix.
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Breck's Deluxe Amaryllis Plant Support Stakes (set of 3)
Purpose-made stakes that keep heavy amaryllis stalks upright without bamboo canes and string. They work for paperwhites and orchids too.
- Built for tall bulb stalks
- Neat and discreet
- Reusable every year
- Downside: Too tall for very small pots
- Downside: Insert carefully to miss the bulb
How to use it: Push in beside the bulb when the stalk reaches about 10 inches.
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FAQ
How often should I water an amaryllis?
Sparingly until the shoot is about 2 inches tall, roughly every week or two when the soil is dry. Once it is growing, water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry.
How long does it take for an amaryllis to bloom?
Usually 6 to 10 weeks after planting. Warm rooms speed it up and cool rooms slow it down. A rested bulb coming out of dormancy often flowers in 4 to 8 weeks.
What do you do with an amaryllis after it blooms?
Cut the flower stalk 1 to 2 inches above the bulb, keep the leaves, and grow it in sun with regular feeding until late summer. Then give it 8 to 12 weeks cool and dry.
Is amaryllis poisonous to cats and dogs?
Yes. The ASPCA lists amaryllis as toxic to cats, dogs and horses. Chewing it can cause vomiting, drooling, diarrhea and tremors. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if a pet chews it.
Why is my amaryllis growing leaves but no flowers?
Usually the bulb skipped a proper cool, dry rest or was not fed and grown in good light after its last bloom. Give it a sunny summer with regular feeding, then 8 to 12 weeks at 45 to 55°F.
