Plant Your Amaryllis Bulbs In September And They’ll Bloom In Time For Christmas
Elizabeth is a Permaculture Garden Designer, Sustainability Consultant and Professional Writer, working as an advocate for positive change. She graduated from the University of St. Andrews with an MA in English and Philosophy and obtained a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design from the Permaculture Association.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
Contributions From EMILY CUPIT
Emily is a Gardening Writer, Photographer and Videographer from Derbyshire, UK. She is the Founder of Emily's Green Diary - a community of more than 75,000 people who share in her gardening journey.
IN THIS GUIDE
Amaryllis are subtropical plants popular for growing as houseplants in the UK.
Their flamboyant blooms are a cheerful sight to brighten up your home over winter and in early spring.
When amaryllis bulbs are planted in September, they should bloom in time for your Christmas festivities.
Here is the process involved in planting amaryllis bulbs:
- Soak the bulb in tepid water for a few hours before planting.
- Select a pot in which to plant your bulb that is just large enough to accommodate it.
- Sit the bulb on top of the compost, top up with compost and water in well.
- Leave the bulb in a warm and dark location for a couple of weeks until a shoot emerges.
- Once a shoot emerges, place in a bright spot out of direct sunlight in your home.
Watch our video explanation of this process or read below for further information:
When To Plant
Plant amaryllis bulbs indoors around 6-8 weeks before you would like it to flower.
If you would like your plant to be in bloom for Christmas, planting in mid to late September is generally the best idea.
Results can vary somewhat, but counting back 8 weeks from when you want the plant to bloom should tell you roughly when to plant.
1) Soak Bulbs Before Planting
Once you have sourced your amaryllis bulbs, you should soak them in tepid water for a few hours before you plant them into containers.
This helps to rehydrate the roots and can speed up the process of growth.
2) Choose A Container
Select a pot that is just a little larger than the bulb.
Don’t use a container that is too large, since these are plants that like to have their roots constricted.
They actually do best when they become pot-bound, so there should be no more than 1cm or so of your growing medium on each side of the bulb.
You can fill your pot with any peat-free multipurpose compost.
“I prefer to use peat-free John Innes no.2 for Amaryllis bulbs,” shares Colin Skelly, a Horticulturist with 5 years of experience working at The Eden Project.
“If using peat-free compost, I will always add horticultural grit to the mix to ensure that the mix is free-draining.”
It is also a good idea to top the pot around the edges of the bulb, with horticultural grit.
3) Plant The Bulb
Place some compost in the pot and place the bulb so that it is sitting on top.
Top up a little compost around the sides of the bulb and then water it in well, making sure that the medium is moist but excess water is able to drain away.
4) Leave In A Warm & Dark Place
Next, place the bulb into its pot in a warm, dark place.
Leave it there, checking on it regularly, until a shoot emerges.
5) Move To A Bright Location
Once a shoot emerges from your amaryllis bulb, you should then move the plant in its pot to the position where it will flower within your home.
A suitable location will be bright, but out of direct sunlight, and should also be draft-free and somewhere where the temperatures do not fluctuate too much.
Again, make sure excess water can drain away and don’t water too much, as the bulbs need reasonably free-draining conditions.
Follow these steps and you should only have to wait around 6-8 weeks to see your amaryllis bloom.
