It's a hair on the early side for most of us to start pondering Christmas decorations, but if you want to enjoy the beauty of an amaryllis during the holidays, take a few minutes in the next week or two to get your bulbs settled. Questions?
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Q: What is an amaryllis?
A: A lily-type flower that grows from a bulb. These plants have several long (up to 2 feet sometimes) leaves, and thick stalks that each have three flowers. Christmas-y flowers are deep red, white, or some combination of the two colors. Flowers that are referred to as "holiday amaryllis" aren't techinically amaryllis, but we won't be too picky.
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Q: What do I do with it?
A: If you're buying (or receiving) a gift pack, it will come with potting medium, a decorative pot, a big bulb, and instructions. Follow the instructions, which usually go something like this: add water to the potting medium and allow it to soak in. Place some potting medium in the pot, put the bulb in, and fill around bulb. Water regularly. Don't bury the bulb; leave the top third or so showing.
Q: Is this thing any good when it's done blooming, or should I toss it?
A: The bulb will bloom for you each year, if you treat it properly. Once it's done blooming, cut the flower stem(s) back close to the bulb. Leave the leaves alone (like any other bulb plant, the leaves need to generate enough energy for the bulb to produce again next year). Continue to water and feed until late summer, then cut back and stop watering and allow the leaves to die. The plant has to go dormant before blooming again. In November, pot 'er up again, start watering and feeding, and watch the show!
