After Bloom Care
Now that your amaryllis flowers have come and gone you will need to change the care routine in order to ensure new blooms next year. This is an easy process so don't send that plant directly to the compost heap. In fact if you save your plant it will be larger next year.
The first step after blooming is to provide the plant with a sunny spot (as outlined above), continue watering whenever the surface soil dries, and fertilize twice a month.
In spring, when temperatures rise and the danger of frost is past, place the pot outside in an area with partial shade. Full sun will kill the plant. If you live in a warm climate you will not need to wait until springtime to put the plant outside. Resume the previous care schedule but with the plant outdoors instead of in. By summer's end the amaryllis leaves will begin to yellow and eventually die back. When this happens, remove the dead foliage with a pair of pruning shears and slowly reduce the amount of water by watering less often. This will prepare the plant for a rest period. If the foliage hasn't begun to wilt by September begin reducing the amount of water and this will prompt it to die back.
As the cool weather of fall approaches bring the pot back inside, but this time place the pot in a dark location and discontinue the regular feeding and watering schedule for six to eight weeks. The temperature in this spot should be a cool 45 degrees F. Leave any green or yellowing foliage on the plant at this time. It shouldn't be cut off until it dies back completely.
After the rest or dormancy period remove any remaining dead foliage. At this time either repot the plant or continue growth in the same soil. Your bulb may have tiny bulbs growing off the main bulb at this time. You can remove these tiny bulbs and pot them in a new pot to grow a new generation of amaryllis plants or you can also leave them to grow off of the mother bulb until they mature. Water the bulb (or new immature bulbs) once and place in a warm sunny location. Wait two or three weeks until growth sets in and continue the cycle again for another year. Don't give up on your plant if it doesn't bloom this year. Starting from a dry bulb is a rigorous process for a plant and it may need until next year to gain back its resources. However, as time goes on your amaryllis will not only continue to blossom year after year, but it will produce new amaryllis bulbs for you to do with as you please.
Back to the beginning Print this article
| 
