HOW TO Care for Amaryllis for Repeat Blooms

It’s easy to make waxed amaryllis bulbs bloom again and again, year after year!

Amaryllis flowers brighten up the home, especially during the winter months. These amaryllis flower care tips will help simplify how to save waxed amaryllis bulbs and care for unwaxed bulbs so they will bloom at least annually. 

Waxed amaryllis bulbs – what to do after they bloom? 

Despite what the retailers tell you, waxed amaryllis have more than one year of life in them! All you have to do is remove the wax and any hardware attached to the bulb. Then treat it like an unwaxed amaryllis bulb.

You CAN replant a waxed amaryllis and it is an easy process! Let’s learn a little about amaryllis to understand the important traits that matter to us.    

Amaryllis bulbs can bloom for decades and are easy care. They produce tropical plants.

Unless you live in hardiness zones 9-11 in the United States or a location elsewhere that does not experience frost, you will need to protect the bulbs from freezing temperatures.

These winter bulbs do not need a chilling period like tulips or daffodils! 

So many varieties, colors and shapes of amaryllis

There are over fifty species of Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.).  Before the winter holidays hit in the United States, inexpensive boxed amaryllis gifts line the shelves and catch the eye at checkout.

More prized and rare varieties are only available by special order. Those tend to be pricier. After the holidays, the bulbs are marked down significantly.

Browse the internet to see all the beautiful types of amaryllis. The lily-shaped petals can vary in shape, size and texture. Colors range from solid shades of white, to multi-colored combinations of green, yellow, orange, purple, magenta, red and pink. Some have contrasting borders! 

Look for these stunning varieties of amaryllis that feature color striping or precise edges: Aphrodite, Dancing Queen, Exotic Star, Peruvian Picasso, Picotee, Samba and Santos.

Spidery and frilly amaryllis, and those with ruffles: Double Dream (double petals), Jungle Star, Le Paz, Sweet Nymph (double petals)

Amaryllis with bright or rich colored blooms: Monaco, Pink Floyd and Red Nymph

White or delicate amaryllis: Alfresco, Emerald, Ice Queen, Minerva, Snowdrift, White Christmas and White Clouds 

Amaryllis gifts are popular: I’ve received amaryllis as gifts before in wax, potted and just the bare bulbs! 

Amaryllis with ombre, brush stroke and watercolor-like hues and patterns: Aphrodite, Charisma, Gervase and Rosy Star

It’s no wonder why there are amaryllis fanatics with hundreds of bulbs in their collections.  

How many blooms will an amaryllis make?

The most common amaryllis bulbs will bloom once a year. Some amaryllis plants have been known to bloom up to three times a year! They can have up to three stalks per bulb and produce two to four blooms per stalk!

How do you take care of amaryllis bulbs so they will rebloom for years?

When I first researched how to save amaryllis bulbs I got confused. So many questions!

When do I put the bulbs in a cool, dark place, and for how long? Why am I doing that? There are countless videos on the topic and many people are still perplexed on how to get them to bloom year after year.

My confusion stemmed from thinking amaryllis bulbs required a cooling period, and I needed to time that correctly. Was there some magic formula for taking care of amaryllis that only gardening gurus were privy to? …a secret amaryllis society?  

I soon discovered the simple truth about how to take care of amaryllis bulbs:

It’s optional to force an amaryllis to bloom. Amaryllis DO NOT need to be stored in a cool, dark spot in a basement, garage or refrigerator, ever, unless you want to force them to bloom at a specific time. 

The only other reason why you might want to tuck them away a bit is to not have them on display during their own natural rest period, when the leaves start to yellow and wilt. 

That was my eureka moment and I hope that simplifies things for you too!

How do amaryllis grow naturally? 

Amaryllis do take a break to recoup energy to bloom again and each bulb will have its own preferences and schedule. Many factors will influence a bulb’s resting period: variety, sun, care, humidity, warmth, etc.  

If left to their own growth cycle, most tropical amaryllis will bloom in the spring and rejuvenate in the summer.  Amaryllis rejuvenate by growing leaves, before entering a natural dormant stage during the fall and part of winter before flowering again. Several factors like light and water can change the schedule a bit. 

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere and buy an amaryllis bulb that originates in the Southern Hemisphere, its natural bloom time in spring in the South might be your late winter in the North! 

Let the amaryllis show you when it needs to rest

When its leaves wilt, turn yellow, or die back, the amaryllis plant is processing and storing the energy it needs to bloom again. When ready, on its own time, it will start to send flower stalks up, leaves or a combination of both.

The leaves are key and must grow well before the bulb will have enough strength to produce flowers. If you trim the leaves off before the plant can gather strength through photosynthesis, the amaryllis may not produce blooms until after another attempt to collect more energy through its leaves.

I have read hundreds of comments on various videos and blog posts where people were disappointed that their amaryllis skipped a season of blooming. In many cases, the leaves were trimmed off too soon or not allowed to grow to a point where the bulb had enough energy to bloom. 

The easiest way to save an amaryllis is to allow it to bloom on its own schedule

There is no need to put a bulb away in the garage or basement if you don’t care when it will bloom again. If you don’t like the look of an amaryllis bulb sitting around bare, certainly move it out of the way, somewhere dry, dim and cool. No need to water it during this rest period.

It will show you when it wants to grow again with new green growth emerging from the top of the bulb.

What are the light requirements for amaryllis indoors? 

Amaryllis likes a sunny window BEFORE the flowers open up. Move amaryllis to indirect light during bloom and at rest, and then sun again to grow more leaves.

When the blooms fade, trim the flower stalks off to about 1-2 inches (5 cm). If the light in your window is too strong, you will see signs of leaf burn, move it slightly away from the intense sun. 

Do you prune amaryllis leaves or let them grow?

Keep the leaves intact and let them grow in bright light until they die back on their own. Through photosynthesis, the leaves gather up energy to ensure the bulb has what it takes to produce flowers again.

Only when the leaves have withered do you trim them back to 1-2 inches (5 cm). 

The tortured and festive waxed amaryllis bulb

Wax-encased amaryllis bulbs have become a popular gift during the holidays, especially around Christmas and Valentine’s Day in the United States.

Leaves and flower stems emerge from a freestanding orb. I have received two from my awesome Aunt Jane, and I was both excited and worried for the poor plants. 

How long will a waxed amaryllis bulb last in the wax?

A waxed bulb has enough stored energy, without any additional soil or water, to produce at least one round of single or double flowers lasting up to a few weeks. 

I imagine many people throw them out after they bloom one time. I picture them smushed in the landfill or dried up in the back yard. This does not have to be the fate of the waxed amaryllis! 

I’m on a mini crusade to “SAVE THE WAXED AMARYLLIS!”

Some experienced gardeners scoff at waxed bulbs, and even go so far to call them wasteful, greedy, “one hit wonders”. 

I’ve proven this to be “dead” wrong. Maybe those folks were so disgusted with the trend that they were quick to pass judgement. 

I’ve read many claims on other sites that the waxed bulbs will never flower a second time. That is true if left in the wax encasement.

Without water, the bulb will not be able to sustain itself. But there is hope!

“SAVE THE WAXED AMARYLLIS!” LOL

If you remove the wax coating and pot up the bulb, a once-waxed amaryllis bulb can bloom again!

Here’s how to save your waxed amaryllis bulbs! 

When do I remove an amaryllis bulb from the wax?

Remove the wax before you allow the amaryllis to grow. OR allow it to grow and flower as intended.

• If you remove the wax before it flowers, continue to follow the instructions below to remove the wax.
• If you allow the waxed bulb to bloom in its encasement, wait until the flowers fade to take action.
• Once the flowers begin to fade, cut all flower stalks down to about 2 inches / 5.08 cm. Do not cut off the leaves. 
• Use a knife or pair of utility scissors to separate the pliable layer of wax from the bulb. Take care not to injure yourself or the bulb.
• Some bulbs may also be covered in a balloon-like plastic casing before being dipped in wax. Remove that too. 
• The plastic and paint involved are not easily recycled. There might also be a wire inside the wax that could be reused for another project. 

There you have it. Your waxed amaryllis can be treated like a regular amaryllis bulb once it has been freed. 

What if the bulb has no roots?

An amaryllis bulb with no roots is a temporary thing. It will grow roots when ready but you won’t see roots yet on a bulb if it is dipped in wax.

If the wax application is of pore quality, there is a chance roots might start to grow and try to break free!  

What kind of container is best for amaryllis bulbs? 

• Use a container only 2 inches wider than the bulb. It has been proven that amaryllis will grow better if confined a bit. They don’t mind being root bound. 
• You can plant multiple amaryllis bulbs in one pot. They love company and the display could be a spectacular grouped together.

What is the best temperature for amaryllis bulbs indoors?

• The ideal temperature indoors is around 70 F / 21 C, but once it starts to bloom it likes it a little cooler. 
• If temperatures outside are under 50 F / 10 C, you may want to keep your amaryllis inside.

How do you fertilize amaryllis bulbs? 

• A little fertilizer can help your amaryllis bulb to thrive.
• Do not use heavy nitrogen fertilizers or over-fertilize.
• Use a balanced fertilizer with NPK numbers that are approximately the same, and water it down significantly. Apply every 2 – 4 weeks. No need to fertilize while blooming or when the bulb is resting.  

How do I water an amaryllis? 

• A new waxed amaryllis bulb does not need water to support its first flowers! If you intend to keep it in the wax until after the first blooms are over, do not water anything. 
• Never water an amaryllis bulb from the top – that can cause rot.
• Start amaryllis in a warm spot. Water and wait until it grows 2 inches before you water again. Water minimally after.
• Do not overwater, ever. The bulbs should never be submerged in water or planted in a soggy spot. They can be planted outdoors. We cover that below. 
• If potted in soil, water to keep the soil barely moist until the flower stalks are two inches tall. 
• Water minimally after the flower stalks grow two inches tall.

Whether you pot your amaryllis in soil or keep it in water, ensure the roots and bulb do not rot. One technique uses rock as a bed for the bulb. The amaryllis I grow in a bowl of water sits on top of a small pile of lava rock and the roots grow around and through the rock. FUN! I only add water to cover the root section of the bulb. 

If grown in soil, ensure an inch of the bulb remains exposed above the soil line and there is plenty of drainage. 

What are some tips for growing amaryllis outside?

• Amaryllis can be grown outside during warm weather.
• If temperatures will be consistently over 50 F / 10 C, for at least a few months, you have the option of planting it outside.
• Amaryllis does best with at least 5 hours of full sun.
• In locations where direct sun is extremely intense, plant the amaryllis in a spot where it will receive morning and midday sun, and sheltered sun or shade in the afternoon
• Plant directly in the ground or bury the container in the ground. Ensure 1/4 of the bulb remains above soil level and that any container you bury has ample drainage holes.
• Trim off spent blooms and cut stalks down to 2 in / 5.08 cm above the bulbs. The remaining leaf portions will help make food for future blooms.
• If your climate is temperate (check if amaryllis will grow outdoors in your location), transplant outside in part or full sun when the weather is warm. 
• Make sure the soil is amended with lots of organic matter and is well draining.
• Bury the bulb so that one inch is above the surface.
• Fertilize once or twice a month for best results or side dress with compost.
• Don’t let your bulb rot. If it looks too wet, change its location. 

When do amaryllis bulbs need to come inside if planted outside?  

Bring amaryllis bulbs inside before soil temperatures drop below 50 F / 10 C. There are online soil temperature websites where you simply enter your zip code to determine your soil temperature. No need to invest in a soil thermometer. 

Amaryllis bulbs are considered tender and can’t take freezes at all.

How to transplant an amaryllis from outside to indoors?

To remove amaryllis from the ground, carefully dig up the soil around the roots. Wash off as much dirt as possible. 

Refer to the container information above to pot it up. If you would like to force it to bloom at a certain date, we have a great reference below to make that easy. 

How to force an amaryllis to bloom at a specific time?

For those of us who want amaryllis to bloom around the end of December, during the holidays, we must force the plant into dormancy early, in order to force it to flower early.  (Remember, these bulbs usually originate from a different climate where its clock to bloom operates on a different schedule.)

Coax the amaryllis into blooming sooner than it naturally would by putting it into a dormant state about 4.5 months before we want it to flower again. A cool, dry and dark environment with no watering usually does the trick.

Five key tips for forcing an amaryllis to bloom at a specific time. 

1. DETERMINE DESIRED BLOOM DATE: Decide when you want it to bloom again and count back 4.5 months from that date. (Or simply count back 5 months and add two weeks.)
2. DON’T TRIM OFF GREEN LEAVES: The leaves may start to wither naturally before you relocate it. That’s ok. You always want to let the leaves grow as much as possible because they capture and transport energy to the bulb to support future blooms. Only cut them back when they have died or leave them in place. The dying of the leaves is the signal it is going into dormancy. 
3. FIND A COOL, DARK AND DRY STORAGE PLACE: 4.5 months before you want the amaryllis to bloom, store it in a dim location that does not get too humid. Keep the amaryllis bulb in its pot or lay the bare bulb on its side. Ideal temperature: 50-55 F / 10-12.78 C. It’s ok if your room temperature is not ideal. A garage, basement or unheated closet should suffice. 
4. Store the amaryllis bulb for about 2.5 months.
5. Do not water the amaryllis bulb during storage.

Remember, whenever possible, you want the leaves to grow nice and big before you place it in storage so it will store enough energy to support future blooms. 

After the forced resting period of 2.5 months, remove the amaryllis bulb from storage so it can begin to grow again!

When you are ready to remove the amaryllis from dormancy, clean up any dried leaves, trim the roots to a length that will work for the container and place the bulb near direct sunlight in warmer temps between 70-75 F / 21.1-23.9 C.

• Water sparingly at first and never overwater.
• Green flower stalks will form after a few weeks, then stunning flowers will follow several weeks later.
• It may take 8-10 weeks for the amaryllis to bloom once it has been placed in a sunny spot. It all depends on the variety you have and its growing conditions. 

To recap the storage time required to force an amaryllis to bloom: 

2.5 months in storage (roughly)

+

2 months to flower again

= 4.5 months (roughly)

What are some sample schedules for forcing Amaryllis to bloom around the winter holidays in the United States?

Force amaryllis to bloom around the end of December

Prepare for dormancy. Store in a cool, dry place for 2.5 months starting in mid-August. Around the end of October, take the amaryllis out and into bright light so it will start to grow again. It takes about 8-10 weeks for the amaryllis to bloom after taking it out of storage.

Force amaryllis to bloom during January and early February

Prepare for dormancy. Store in a cool, dry place for 2.5 months starting in mid- September. Around the end of November, take the amaryllis out and into bright light so it will have the 8-10 weeks it needs to produce flowers. 

How do I get my amaryllis to bloom more than once a year?

Results will vary depending on your amaryllis variety and growing conditions. 

Prepare for dormancy. Store in a cool, dry place for only 1-1.5 months. Take the amaryllis out and place in bright light. 

Read the tips at the bottom to learn how the origin of your amaryllis can determine how long it takes to bloom after being awakened.

10 Inside Tips for Caring for Amaryllis Bulbs

1. Amaryllis do not need big containers! If potting an amaryllis in a small container, leave only 1 inch space on each side. Amaryllis like tight quarters and being pot bound is no problem.
2. When an amaryllis blooms it does not need strong light. Once amaryllis starts to bloom, move to a cooler location like a table versus a windowsill. The blooms will last longer!
3. Larger amaryllis bulbs produce larger amaryllis blooms. Amaryllis bulbs are sold by centimeters and the larger the bulb, the more flower stalks you will get. Try and find bulbs at least 34-38 centimeters and you will be rewarded with more blooms.
4. Country of origin of an amaryllis bulb can alter how it will wake up after its rest period. Look for the country of origin for your amaryllis.
5. Amaryllis originating from the Southern Hemisphere will bloom in the United States in the winter because the bulb naturally blooms in the summer in the Southern Hemisphere (which lines up with winter in the United States). It will take approximately 4-6 weeks for Southern amaryllis to bloom after they wake up. 
6. Amaryllis originating from the Northern hemisphere will bloom 6-12 weeks after they wake up.
7. It has been written that apples will ruin amaryllis blubs if stored together, by rendering them sterile. Therefore, if you use a refrigerator crisper drawer to store bulbs (needs a dry spot), do not store apples alongside the amaryllis bulbs.
8. Treat refrigerated amaryllis bulbs a little differently. Refrigerated amaryllis bulbs should remain there at least 6 weeks. The process I describe above to force amaryllis to rest and bloom may not align if you store the bulb in a refrigerator. 
9. Rewaxing an amaryllis bulb that was once waxed is not recommended. You might be able to rewax a bulb if you give it an extra full year to grow foliage and store energy to bloom again. But why would you go to that trouble and use those materials when an amaryllis bulb is beautiful potted, placed in a bowl of rocks with water, or wrapped in moss.
10. If you find you don’t have the patience to preserve an amaryllis bulb, it can be composted and spared from the landfill. 

Ideas for gifting and displaying amaryllis without soil

• MOSS! Wrap the bulb in sheet moss instead of burying in soil. Simply place it on a plate. To water it, dip it in water once a week. Wow, imagine the design options.
• NO SOIL METHOD: Place the amaryllis bulb in a shallow dish covering about 1/3 of the bulb with water.  Change the water out weekly. I used lava rock under the bulb and the roots wrapped around the rock, providing stability.
• HANGING AMARYLLIS: Hang waxed amaryllis bulbs upside down!

Read about how amaryllis bulbs produce offsets (young bulbs) and how amaryllis can be propagated from Penn State Extension. 

I hope this guide has helped to simplify the process of keeping an amaryllis plant for many years! Please share with friends so they can “crack the amaryllis code” too!