‘Tis the season for amaryllis, one of our favorites for dependable holiday bloom. Bulbs are available usually starting in mid-September and lasting through February. And nothing could be easier to grow than amyrillis.

The amaryllis is a sun lover and so it will grow best in a sunny window that gets at least 6 hours of good light every day. These plants like warm temperatures, around 70-75 F, which means they will be happy in an average home’s surroundings. Once flowering begins, move your amaryllis to a slightly cooler temperature, about 65 F, to prolong the blooming.

Your amaryllis will arrive as a bulb, a big ugly thing that somewhat resembles an onion. Don’t try to eat it! If your bulb is loose, rather than preplanted in a pot, locate a pot or container that’s about an inch or two larger in diameter than the base of the bulb. Clay or plastic will work but make sure it has a hole in the bottom for drainage.

Plant the amaryllis so that one-third to one-half of the bulb is above the soil or growing medium. This ensures that the bulb’s nose stays dry which helps prevent fungal infections. Use a good potting soil to grow your amaryllis.

Water immediately once you plant your amaryllis bulb. Keep the soil slightly moist, but not overly wet. When flowering starts, increase the frequency of watering. Water when the soil surface feels dry, usually once a week.

Do not fertilize the plant if it has no leaves. This is important to remember since the bulb generally will send up the flowering stalk before it does much in the way of leaf development. Fertilizing too soon will kill the roots… and that means no flowers. Once leaves begin to develop, fertilize twice a month using a soluble fertilizer recommended for indoor potted plants.

Remove the blossoms as soon as they fade to prevent seed formation. Do this by cutting the stem off just above the bulb. Do not remove any leaves. Make sure you keep your amaryllis in a sunny window now and water and fertilize regularly. This is the active growth stage of your bulb and proper care now will give you a bigger bulb (and more flowers) next season.

To bring your amaryllis bulb into flower again next season, you need to do just a few things. First of all, decide when you want it to bloom. Then count backwards about eight to ten weeks. That’s the time for you to stop watering and fertilizing the bulb. Yes, it will seem to die but don’t worry, it’s simply taking a rest.

The leaves will turn yellow and wither but don’t be alarmed. Also, if your bulb seems to have grown to the point where it’s pressing against the sides of its pot, you will want to replant it into something larger now.

After an eight to ten week dormant period, you will see the first signs of new growth beginning. When you see the top of the new flower bud beginning to emerge from the bulb, carefully trim off all the dead or yellowed leaves and move the plant to a sunny area and start watering it again. Remember, no fertilizer until it has leaves!

Rotate the plant every few days so the flower stalk doesn’t lean towards the light too much.

And that’s all there is to bringing your lovely amaryllis bulb into bloom for a second season!