I’m a terrible houseplant owner. I don’t know if it’s a light situation or a just a general disinterest in figuring out the appropriate growing conditions, but unless it’s a pothos it will almost certainly die here.
Even still, I WANT THE PLANTS INSIDE. So my solution has been to fill our house with branches and grass (sorry Tom), but this can be limiting in winter. Enter potted bulbs. Minimal effort, no shedding needles/leaves/pollen or sharp edges to rip your clothes. PERFECT.
I dabbled in paper whites the last couple of winters, and while I appreciate their delicate, fragrant blooms I needed something more exotic to ogle too. I had previously written off amaryllis because of all the waxed ornament monstrosities I saw everywhere at Christmastime, but I am here to concede that they are in fact glorious & I was just being a bitch. Especially since they’re basically foolproof and we get to enjoy their giant flowers when it’s a barren tundra outside.
There’s an entire world of colors beyond the red/candycane looking numbers that I promise will elevate the look of your space throughout winter. Some of my favorites that we’ll be offering include ‘Amadeus’, ‘Revelation’, ‘Appleblossom’, ‘Sweet Nymph’, ‘White Nymph’, and ‘Fantasy’.
The Basics
Bigger is definitely better when it comes to bulbs, so get the thickest ones you can find (ours are top sized, usually 30-32 or 36-38). Larger ones often produce 2-3 stems with 4+ flowers each. #thiccbulbs
Amaryllis will typically flower around 5-8 weeks after planting, though timing can vary based on variety, ambient temperature, etc., and can be potted in pretty much any type of container (we’re partial to aged terra-cotta pots from Campo de Fiore). Make sure you leave the neck exposed and only water if the top inch of soil feels dry. Once a stem & leaves appear you can water more regularly. Remember, these are tropical flowers so keep them somewhere warm & bright. Once blooming you can move the plant to a cooler place to enjoy.
