CARING FOR YOUR AMARYLLIS
Congratulations - you are the new owner of a beautiful flower! Now, how to take good care of it:
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Keep out of direct sun. As each bloom fades, snip it off close to the stalk to encourage more blooms - and even more stems(!) - to emerge. When there are no more buds on a stem, cut off the entire stalk about 2" above the bulb. Don't cut off any leaves.
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How to save the bulb to re-bloom next year:
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Once your Amaryllis has finished blooming, set it in your sunniest window, continue to water when the top inch of soil is dry and begin fertilizing every month with any water-soluble fertilizer. Around May, set the pot outside in full to part sun for the rest of the summer. The goal now is to encourage it to grow big, strong leaves, which create a BIG, healthy bulb. The bigger the bulb, the more flowers it will produce!
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In the fall, after the first frost, cut off ALL the foliage just above the bulb, bring the pot indoors and put it in a cool (50-60oF) dark place for 8-10 weeks. DO NOT WATER AT ALL DURING THIS TIME. Amaryllis must go through a dormant period to develop flower buds inside the bulb. After 8-10 weeks, bring it out and get it ready to grow!
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Water it WELL with warm water to get things underway. Put the pot in a bright WARM spot. Amaryllis are happiest in 70-80ºF temperatures. If your home is cool, set the pot on top of a warm appliance or by a sunny window. IMPORTANT: Water ONLY when the top inch of soil is dry. Watering too often - especially until the stem is 3-4" tall - can cause the bulb to rot. It can take a few weeks before the bulb begins to grow.
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