Amaryllis, Hippeastrum spp., are exceptionally showy bulbs typically grown indoors so as to add daring colour to our winter decor – however they will also be grown outside as perennials in delicate areas or as annuals which can be lifted and saved for winter.
The big, trumpet-shaped blooms flower in vivid, saturated hues and are generally pressured to bloom indoors in the course of the winter months, however outside, their pure flowering time is spring.
Hardy solely in USDA Zones 9 to 11, the tender bulbs are native to tropical and subtropical areas of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America and are vulnerable to wreck from freezing temperatures.
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Inside their hardiness vary, amaryllis can stay within the floor for winter, though they could want a little bit of safety from frosty temperatures or sudden chilly snaps.
To develop amaryllis outside outdoors of their hardiness vary, they’ll have to be lifted and saved in a frost-free location for defense over the winter months.
We’ve received all the small print about how one can take care of amaryllis bulbs in winter, in or out of the backyard, so let’s dig in!
Right here’s what you’ll discover forward:
Easy methods to Overwinter Amaryllis Bulbs
Amaryllis Bulb Fundamentals
Amaryllis bulbs are available a variety of sizes, and the bigger the bulb, the larger the flowering present.
The jumbo bulbs are 14 to fifteen inches in circumference (36 to 38 centimeters) and usually produce three stems with 4 or 5 flowers per stem!
The smallest have a circumference of 10 to 11 inches (26 to twenty-eight centimeters) and develop one or typically two flower stalks with three or 4 flowers.
They’re usually obtainable for buy at backyard facilities within the fall, from September by December.
And though they’re typically pressured to flower over the winter months, the traditional bloom time for amaryllis is in early spring.
Amaryllis will be grown outside as perennials in frost-free areas, and as annuals in colder areas.
And to study extra about out of doors cultivation, try our information to rising amaryllis outside within the backyard.
Care After Flowering
No matter whether or not your amaryllis are grown in containers or backyard beds, post-bloom care is similar.
Holding your amaryllis wholesome after flowering is what’s wanted to advertise blooms subsequent season.
Enable the straplike leaves to develop all through the summer season, fertilizing and watering your crops commonly.
Take care to not overwater, which may trigger points like rot, however don’t let the soil dry out fully both.
One of many most important causes for amaryllis not flowering within the subsequent blooming interval is that they weren’t in a position to retailer sufficient vitamins in the course of the post-flowering interval.
To offer your crops the vitamins they want, use a water-soluble fertilizer utilized month-to-month in the course of the rising season or apply gradual launch pellets in early spring and once more after flowering.
A balanced feed method with equal components nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium works properly.
Burpee Natural All Function Plant Meals
You will discover four-pound baggage of granular Natural All Function Plant Meals with a 5-5-5 NPK ratio obtainable at Burpee.
Container crops will be fed extra often – about each two weeks with a half-strength answer of a water soluble fertilizer.
After the blooms fade, use clear, sharp scissors to take away the flowers and stop seeds from forming. When allowed to develop seeds, it depletes the vitality reserves and might cut back flower manufacturing the next yr.
Use clear, sharp shears to chop the stem just under the spent bloom, leaving the rest of the flower stalk in place if it’s nonetheless vivid inexperienced and wholesome.
So long as the flower stem is inexperienced, it continues to photosynthesize serving to the bulb to retailer vitality for future flowers and foliage. As soon as the colour lightens and begins to show yellow, take away the stem, trimming it near the bottom.
By mid to late fall, amaryllis crops often enter a dormant interval that lasts three to 4 months.
Presently, the foliage usually turns yellow and dies again for winter, though a few of the foliage could stay in delicate areas.
Fertilizing needs to be withheld from late summer season onwards.
Overwinter In-Floor
For gardeners in Zones 9 to 11, amaryllis will be overwintered in place. For these outdoors of this vary, they need to be lifted and saved for winter, which we’ll cowl later on this article.
For in-ground care, after the foliage has turned brown and shriveled, gently pull it away or reduce it from the bulb with clear, sharp scissors.
When you dwell in an space with delicate winters, the foliage could stay evergreen yr spherical. It’s tremendous to depart it in place however withhold water and fertilizers till spring.
In areas that by no means expertise frost they require no extra mulching for winter safety.
In areas the place frost is feasible, add a four-inch layer of winter mulch to guard them from chilly temperatures, utilizing porous supplies to stop standing water, reminiscent of bark mulch, conifer needles, pebbles, or straw.
Winter rainfall is often ample to maintain the dormant bulbs viable, however in very dry circumstances, watering sometimes helps to stop shrinkage.
If rainfall is insufficient, water flippantly as soon as a month.
Raise and Retailer
When you’re rising outdoors of their hardiness vary, the cold-tender bulbs have to be lifted and saved in a protected setting for the winter months.
In late summer season to early autumn after the foliage dies again, draw back or in the reduction of the leaves to at least one to 2 inches above the bulb.
In case your crops are nonetheless inexperienced and vibrant in mid-August, cut back supplemental watering for 2 weeks then withhold it altogether to drive them into dormancy.
Use a spade to carry the bulbs rigorously, gently brushing away any grime that adheres to the floor.
For storage, they are often potted up into small containers or saved unfastened in a bin or field.
Use packing containers with good airflow like perforated cardboard, woven jute, seagrass or wicker, or wire mesh. However keep away from plastic, which may entice and maintain moisture, inflicting points like rot.
I like to make use of a field with a sturdy body so I can stack and retailer a wide range of bulbs as they’re lifted from the backyard.
Woven Jute Bins
This set of two woven jute packing containers with handles are excellent for the job and are obtainable at Wayfair.
To switch bulbs to small nursery pots for storage, trim the roots then place them in pots which can be a number of inches wider than the bulb’s circumference.
Add some coconut coir, peat moss, or dry potting soil to cowl the bulbs about midway, however go away the neck uncovered.
Free bulbs will be gently rinsed with a backyard hose, dried completely, then saved in an open basket or field nestled into some coconut coir or peat moss.
Retailer in a cool, darkish, and dry setting. The best temperature is within the vary of 40 to 50°F, they usually’ll be tremendous in temperatures as much as 60°F.
However don’t retailer amaryllis bulbs within the fridge.
I do know there’s oodles of on-line recommendation saying that fridge storage is okay so long as there aren’t any apples current however these are tropical bulbs that don’t require any chill hours to bloom.
Nevertheless, they do have a dormancy interval, and funky, however not chilly, temperatures assist them to relaxation – they could survive the mistreatment of fridge storage, however they received’t be pleased about it and decreased flowering will be anticipated.
When you don’t have a cool basement, storage, or shed to retailer your bulbs, tuck them right into a darkish cabinet within the coolest room in your house. A cool setting is much better for them than chilly fridge temperatures.
Test them month-to-month to search for indicators of shriveling or withering that may point out that they’re turning into too dry.
In the event that they’re beginning to dry and pucker, give them a gentle contact of water – however not more than only a few tablespoons sprinkled onto the storage medium or the soil of a potted plant.
Test in a number of days and repeat as wanted till the shriveling eases up – often one or two purposes is ample.
Retailer bulbs for at least eight weeks and as a lot as 12 weeks, an extended relaxation interval produces extra considerable flowering.
After dormancy, pot up unfastened bulbs and transfer them right into a heat location to sprout – our information to repotting amaryllis has all the small print.
When in a single day temperatures keep above 50°F, you’ll be able to plant them out into the backyard.
Container Care
After flowering, deal with container-grown specimens the identical as these rising within the backyard.
Water and fertilize commonly till late within the rising season.
In frost-free areas, container crops can stay in place.
However if you happen to obtain a lot of winter rainfall, transfer your pots right into a sheltered spot or rain shadow so that they’re not always saturated. Beneath eaves or a big evergreen, or towards a fence or wall are appropriate places.
It’s additionally a good suggestion to take away catchment saucers and elevate containers on bricks, pot toes, or a few items of lumber to stop standing water.
And the soil in containers have to be well-draining.
If winters in your area are dry, water the bulbs month-to-month if wanted. However go flippantly and provides them solely small sips of water, simply sufficient to stop shriveling.
In colder areas with common frosty temperatures, the containers have to be moved right into a frost-free location for winter.
In late summer season, cut back watering for 2 weeks then withhold it solely for one more two to 6 weeks.
Take away the foliage because it withers and dies, reducing it again to at least one to 2 inches.
Transfer containers right into a frost free setting like a shed or storage earlier than nighttime temperatures drop to 50°F. If wanted, present them with a small sip of water month-to-month to stop the bulbs from drying and shriveling.
As soon as spring temperatures return and new development emerges, transfer them again right into a sunny spot outside to renew development.
Wholesome Bulbs for Showy Flowers
Amaryllis are appreciated for his or her giant, showy flowers as indoor winter ornamentals they usually’re excellent within the backyard as properly!
In frost free areas, they stunning a lot take care of themselves. However it’s possible you’ll want to maneuver container crops right into a rain shadow if heavy winter rains are regular.
When you obtain gentle frosts, they are often left in-ground however have to be planted deeply and mulched closely for defense.
For areas outdoors of their hardiness vary, they are often moved right into a frost free website to overwinter and bloom once more in spring.
How do you of us deal with tropical backyard bulbs like amaryllis over winter? Tell us within the feedback part under.
And for extra details about rising amaryllis, try these guides subsequent: