The showy flowers of amaryllis make an almost perfect gift.
With just a little
effort, this year’s practically foolproof flowers boast of
countless Christmases to come,
says a University of
Georgia expert.

“When properly cared for, an amaryllis bulb may produce
flowers for many
years,” said Mel
Garber, an Extension
Service horticulturist with the University of
Georgia College of
Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences.

“Quality bulbs of named
varieties may produce up to six flowers on a single stalk,”
Garber said.

Amaryllis is truly a gift that keeps on giving.

To get the most out of your amaryllis blooms this year,
Garber said, give it some cool
evenings (65 degrees). And water it often as soon as it
starts flowering.

Then, when the show’s over, cut back the flowering
parts.

“Remove each flower as soon as it passes its peak
beauty,” Garber said.
“After all the flowers on the stalk have bloomed, cut off
the stalk itself two inches
above the bulb.”

That will prevent a drain of food from other developing
flower buds or foliage, he
said.

But don’t cut the foliage, he said. The leaves begin to
appear as the plant flowers.
They’re the plant’s means of putting back the food reserves
it expended in flowering.

Indoors, keep the amaryllis in a southern window, Garber
said. An eastern or western
window is second best. Plants in a northern window may need
extra light.

When the danger of frost has passed, move the plant
outdoors.

The size and quality of the flowers next year depend
greatly on how you fertilize it
during the year, Garber said.

“Any soluble or liquid fertilizer is satisfactory for pot
plants,” he said.
“But use it at half the recommended rate.”

Fertilize first when the flowering starts, again when the
flower stem is 6 to 8 inches
tall and again right after flowering, when the old flowers
and stems have been removed.
Continue fertilizing at five- to six-week intervals.

The new control-release fertilizers also work well,
Garber said, and can be used at
about half-rate in the pot.

To prepare potted amaryllis for flowering next year, stop
watering and feeding the
plant by Oct. 1. When the foliage wilts and droops, cut it
off. Then place the plant in a
warm, dry place for two to three months. Don’t water or
fertilize it during this time.

In January, move the pot to a southern window. You may
want to repot it if it has
outgrown the pot. But remember, amaryllises like to be
slightly root-bound.

Then start watering and fertilizing again. And step back
to watch a beautiful encore.

Learn more about caring for holiday plants (holiday
cactus, Christmas pepper,
poinsettia and many others) on the World Wide Web at <www.ces.uga.edu/pub
cd/L234.html>.