There are so many different holiday plants to fill your home with color. There is a single bulb that can brighten up your holiday décor and can be purchased at many big box stores and garden centers – the Hippeastrum, also known as the Amaryllis. There are over 600 named varieties of this bulb. You can purchase one as a box set, with a container and soil. They are also available as a waxed bulb that keeps in all the moisture and does not need soil. Lastly, as a large loose bulb that you plant in your own container. Your bulb can be planted and last up to 75 years as a house plant living in a sunny window.
When you plant your bulb only plant it one-third or half of the size of the bulb deep. The rest of the bulb needs to be above the soil line. It needs to be in a pot that is 2 inches wider than the bulb all around. It will take six to eight weeks for your bulb to bloom. This bulb only blooms in November and December. The blooms are eye catching pops of color in your home. Rotate the pot as the flower stalk is growing to ensure it grows straight. Sometimes the weight of the blooms will cause the flower stalk to bend over, so use bamboo stakes to prevent this from happening.
As the blooms begin to fade, clip them off. If a seed pod begins to grow clip that off. When the flower stalk begins to wilt at the end of blooming, cut that stalk down to the top of the bulb. Leave the long leaves attached to the bulb and if needed, stake them in the upward position. Fertilize the potted bulb every two to three months with granular fertilizer. Water the potted plant on a regular basis and twice a month water with a 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer. Over time your bulb will grow offshoots that you will be able to start new pots with.
The waxed bulbs are self-contained and do not need water. If they are on a metal spike just place the bulb in a holiday display with access to sunshine, rotate on a regular basis and watch it grow. You can also grow an unwaxed bulb soilless. The roots only (not the bulb) can be grown in a container of water with the decorative pebbles. Make sure the bulb itself is not sitting in the water, because it will rot. Enjoy the beautiful Amaryllis year after year with this easy proper care.
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Growing on 66 in Winslow, Arizona. The Larsons can be reached at Growingon66@yahoo.com.
