Amaryllis, also known as Hippeastrum, is one of the most impressive flowering bulbs you can grow indoors as a houseplant.
It's the perfect plant for bringing a welcome burst of bloom into your house during the winter.
The flowers are large and trumpet-shaped and come in lovely shades ranging from white and apple-blossom pink to scarlet; some even have striped petals, as in the pictures below.
Amaryllis bulbs are easy to growHippeastrum flowers may look exotic, but they are easy to grow.
When you buy a bulb, look for a large, plump one with some roots attached.
Using a pot that's slightly larger in diameter than the bulb, plant it in potting soil, leaving the "shoulders" - the top third of the bulb - exposed.
Keep the soil moist, but not wet, and the temperatures above 64ºF (18ºC). Optimal temperatures are between 68 to 77ºF (20 to 25ºC).
Place the bulb in bright light and watch for growth to resume. You should see a flower bud appear after a couple of weeks.
Turn the pot regularly so the flower stalk won't lean in one direction. The flowers can be quite top-heavy, so sometimes they need support from a slim bamboo stake and raffia ties.
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The technique recommended for years has been growing the plants on through the summer outdoors, and then inducing dormancy by stopping watering in the fall and placing them in a dry cool spot indoors for 10 to 12 weeks.
The reason for this is to try force blooming for a specific period, usually Christmas.
However, for bigger, healthier plants, some experts recommend allowing the bulb to continue growing vigorously as long as possible, so it will reward you with better blooms in January or February.
To encourage your bulb to rebloom,
just follow these six steps:
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