Container-grown amaryllis

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And next year you do it all over again.
Who could begrudge a bit of work for a result like this:

-amaryllis
a.k.a. Hippeastrum.


Container-grown amaryllis will bloom indoors six to eight weeks after potting. Keep the potted bulb in a warm and bright spot.



If you decide to use a forcer-pot [ glass, no soil ] fill it with bottled water, enough to fill the bottom section of the vase, but not to touch the bulb. The roots will grow down into the water. Place the container in a cool, dark room or greenhouse (approx 10-15°C), checking the water level daily, until you see root and top growth (about 2-3 weeks). Move the container to a bright room, but keep it out of direct sunlight. The amaryllis will bloom in 6-8 weeks after being moved into the light, and should last for 4-6 weeks.

When the temperature in your greenhouse falls to below 10C, bring them into the warmth and begin gentle watering again and your bulb will re-shoot. Don't re-pot it for the first couple of years; it hates root disturbance.. The older and bigger the bulb, the more flowering stems you’ll get, so it’s worth the trouble of nurturing these mini football bulbs.


Bulbs older than two years will produce offset bulblets. These may be left attached to the mother and re-potted with her, creating an amazing show, but its best to remove them carefully just before you replant and put them in their own individual pots. These little bulbs will take two years before producing their first flower, but it will be a proud moment when they do.