Spotlight Plant Of The Month For January: Amaryllis

Jaunty and colorful, amaryllis brightens many a home during the dark days of winter. Easy to grow, wonderful to watch, amaryllis is eager to please in every way! Children and adults alike love to watch her grow by leaps and bounds!

Amaryllis is often one of those bulbs that gardeners receive as Christmas gifts or purchase for themselves. These require about six weeks to set Photo Courtesy of Art Today flower from planting, so be aware that even if you plant your bulb on Christmas day, it might be around the end of January before you can enjoy the flower show.

This is one lady who likes to wear "tight" clothes! Plant in a heavy container, meaning a clay pot. Add a few pebbles for drainage, add a handful or two of sandy potting loam. (Be sure it contains no bark)! Put the bulb on top of that soil mix, and add more mix, but leave the last 1/3 of the bulb exposed. Amaryllis likes to have her shoulders almost hugging the sides of the pot, so plant in a container not much larger than the bulb itself. About 1 to 1-1/2 inches between the bulb and the sides of the pot would be about right. Now, place this pot into a much larger clay pot with enough pebbles added to the bottom to raise the height of the planted pot even with the height of the larger pot.. After it is centered, add more pebbles in the space between the two pots, all the way around. This will help to balance the amaryllis so she doesn't tip her top-heavy self over as she grows! Water well, and keep the water away from the top of the bulb to prevent rotting. Keep moist, not soaking. In other words, let dry between watering to prevent root decay.

Now, sit back and enjoy! Once you have sprinkled a little water on her, amaryllis will grow by leaps and bounds! Every day brings new changes to the plant, and you can almost see her stretch her way "up" in the world. If she is a rather leggy lady, you might want to add a small plant support to keep her from toppling over. Keep in a warm, average home temperature setting in bright light.

Once she is finished blooming, treat her like any other houseplant. Cut off the dying flower stalk, and continue to feed and water her. Take her outdoors when the weather warms, plant her in filtered shade or keep her in her pot to grow on. In September, take her indoors, withhold water, and keep her in a cool, dark place for a few weeks, on her side. Once the foliage has dried, allow her to nap for about six to eight weeks, then it is time to start the show up once again!

This is one plant that doesn't mind flaunting her fiery character. Amaryllis can be classic fire-engine red, striped, salmon, pink, and orange. Bicolors are there, too. There are shorter ones, and ones of very tall stature. There are even an amaryllis or two with striped and variegated foliage!

Even the most conservative gardener would have to agree that this outgoing lady is a wonderful pick-me-up in the middle of winter. So, even if you plant one today and she doesn't smile her sweet smile until nearly Valentine's Day, don't hesitate to plant her anyway!