Get the amaryllis to bloom whenever you want
The magnificent amaryllis is becoming more and more popular every year. But like any prima donna, it can be a bit temperamental with its flowering. How do you get the amaryllis to bloom for Christmas?
When you buy the amaryllis bulb in the store, it is often already planted in a pot, and a bud has usually started to emerge.
How long it takes before it starts to bloom is almost impossible to predict. But we can estimate that it takes between six and nine weeks to get an amaryllis bulb to bloom. During bud formation, it can take between one and three weeks depending on how large the bud has become. What is crucial for flowering is how warm it is in the room and in the soil. As long as it is cool and dark, not much will happen with the amaryllis.
You can influence the flowering with light and warmth
If you are out shopping at the last minute and buy an amaryllis bulb in early December, it is not guaranteed to bloom by Christmas. But it is possible to speed up the blooming process with a few simple steps.
At around 18-20 degrees, the stems will grow quite slowly, but at around 25-26 degrees, they will grow much faster.
Place the amaryllis above a heater – this will accelerate growth.
Remember that all bulb plants need plenty of light to avoid becoming too tall or drooping. This could cause them to break or topple over. Therefore, choose a heavy pot that stands firm.
When the amaryllis stems have stopped growing in height and the flower bud is about to emerge, you can place it in a spot with only 5-8 degrees Celsius. This will stop its growth completely. Then, you can bring it back out when you want it to bloom fully.
"Old wives' tale": a shot a week
Perhaps you have a balcony, a greenhouse, or a bright outdoor space that is cool? If not, you can put the amaryllis in the fridge and let it rest until you think it's time for it to bloom.
Be sparing with water for the first few weeks. The bulb actually has everything it needs inside. If you water too much, the amaryllis will grow too tall. Only when the blooming has started and is about to bloom can you water a little more.
An "old wives' tale" for controlling watering is to give the amaryllis water equivalent to a shot glass per week. Do not water it until you see the bud completely.
Grow your own amaryllis
If you want a slightly different amaryllis, there are many small wonders to choose from in the bulb assortment. You plant them in pots and grow them yourself. The pot should only be slightly larger than the bulb.
The soil should be loose and preferably with some sand in it. Plant the roots of the bulb and the bottom of the bulb below the soil. The rest of the bulb should be above the ground - otherwise it will rot.
Amaryllis come in hundreds of different shapes and shades, from Amaryllis Arctic Nymph with large, double flowers to the wine-red Amaryllis Royal Velvet.
Among the multicolored ones, there is the exciting Amaryllis Nymph with large white-green flowers and beautiful red veins. The sleek Amaryllis Picotee is also eye-catching with the thin red line on the edge of all the flowers. Additionally, the lime green color in the stems of the flowers creates a nice contrast.
Facts about amaryllis - the knight star from South America
- Take a closer look at the size of the amaryllis bulb when shopping. The bigger the bulb, the better quality and more stems with richer flowering.
- A large bulb has a circumference of about 35 cm, weighs around half a kilo, and can have up to three stems each with four flowers.
- Amaryllis is sometimes called "Knight's Star" - a translation of the Latin name "Hippeastrum".
- The origin of the amaryllis is from South America and allegedly arrived in Europe in the 18th century.In the 19th century, growers began to cross different amaryllis species to produce new varieties with larger, more abundant, and fuller flowers in new shades.
- It was not until the 1960s that amaryllis was referred to as a Christmas flower in Norway.
