Key Points
Storing amaryllis bulbs properly matters because it lets them rest, recharge energy, and bloom again beautifully next winter.Most amaryllis bulbs don’t need to be removed from their pots and can rest in place after the leaves yellow and die back.During dormancy, keep bulbs cool, dark, and dry for eight to twelve weeks before replanting with part exposed.
Amaryllis is a plant that grows from a bulb, and is commonly seen at nurseries and garden centers during the colder months. Their bright flowers—which range from red and pink to peach and white—add holiday cheer to any home. Best of all, they’re very low maintenance, so long as you provide them with the right care.
These flowers are often grown as houseplants—they bloom in winter, and go dormant when the temperature warms up. So how do you get these elegant plants to rebloom after year, and do their bulbs need to be stored? We spoke with horticulturists to get the answer.
Should You Store Them?
Amaryllis bulbs aren’t like many others, like crocus or lilies, which need to be planted under the soil and covered. Instead, amaryllis need to have the top third of the bulb exposed.
“Once your potted flower has finished blooming, you should continue to leave it where it gets as much light as possible, watering when necessary,” says Gail Pabst, horticulturist and marketing director at the National Garden Bureau. “This will help it store enough starches and sugars so that [the bulb] will rebloom the following year.”
Many bulbs need to be dug up after they bloom and stored for the following season. Amaryllis, however, usually stays in its pot year-round. “They need to grow all summer for energy, and then [they require] dormancy in the fall months to flower in the winter,” says Pabst.
When to Store
Amaryllis will give off signals that its growing phase is nearing an end. Its blooms will be spent, and its leaves will begin to turn yellow. Once this happens, you can trim the leaves to the base, says Rebecca Siemonsma, director of InBlume.
“Allow the bulb to rest for eight to 12 weeks,” she says. At this time, you can leave the bulbs in their container, or pull them up and store them bare. However, in most cases, amaryllis bulbs won’t need to be removed from their pot.
Moving Them Outdoors
“The amaryllis grown indoors normally go dormant when the temperatures heat up outside in early summer,” says Becky Heath, owner of Brent and Becky’s Bulbs. “However, that’s the time that we like to transplant them in the garden, hoping to extend their growing season.”
Bulbs that are transplanted outside still need to go dormant as part of their life cycle. “We dig ours out of the garden in late summer—September 1st, for example—and put it in a dark, cool place with no light and no water,” says Heath.
How to Store
Carefully take the amaryllis from its pot and place it in a dark area during the dormancy phase. “Their dormancy period isn’t until late summer or early fall, so the bulbs are either replanted in the ground or kept in their pots through the summer months,” says Pabst. The easier option, which also requires less effort, is to simply keep the bulbs in their pot.
Make sure the storage space you choose is a cool, dry place. A closet or basement work well.
How to Replant
If you’ve removed your bulbs from their container and stored them in a dry and dark space, then you’ll need to replant them.
“Repot if stored bare,” says Siemonsma. “Don’t plant too deep.” Amaryllis need to be partially exposed, rather than completely covered by the soil. “The soil level should only go to the bottom of the neck or the top third of the bulb,” she adds.
Comments are closed.