There are many flower bulbs that you can force to grow indoors to bloom in time for Christmas—and amaryllis tops this list!. Add some life to your Christmas decorations or pair this popping red floral with your evergreens. Here’s how you can easily force an amaryllis to bloom indoors during the winter season!
Christmas is coming, and there’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit than with a burst of vibrant color from amaryllis blooms. These bulbous beauties are winter superstars, lighting up living rooms and entryways with their huge, exotic trumpets. With proper timing and care, you can have amaryllis in full glory for Christmas Day and beyond.
As an avid gardener and Christmas enthusiast, I’ve been growing amaryllis bulbs indoors for years. In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know to successfully force amaryllis bulbs for Christmas, including:
- Amaryllis bulb basics
- When to plant for holiday blooms
- Step-by-step planting instructions
- Ongoing care through the season
- Saving bulbs to rebloom
Arm yourself with this guidance, and you’ll be rewarded with a holiday highlight – gorgeous amaryllis flowers perfectly timed for Christmas.
Amaryllis Bulb Basics
Before we jump into timing, let’s cover some amaryllis bulb basics. Amaryllis are tender bulbs native to South Africa. They are forced indoors as houseplants to manipulate blooming times. Outdoors, they thrive in zones 8-10.
The bulbs are large, averaging 4-6 inches across. They have a smooth, rounded bottom and a flat, disk-shaped top. Flower stalks emerge from the center. Look for big, blemish-free bulbs with visible roots. Bulbs are sold by circumference, usually 24/26 cm or larger. Bigger bulbs yield more blooms.
Amaryllis appreciate bright, indirect light indoors. Plant bulbs in pots with drainage holes, using a well-draining potting mix. Bury halfway, leaving the top exposed. After planting, water sparingly. Bloom stalks will emerge in 6-8 weeks. Add stakes if needed for support.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s look at timing for Christmas blooms.
When to Plant for Christmas
Amaryllis bulbs need 6-8 weeks of growth before blooming To enjoy them at Christmas, target planting in early November. This gives bulbs time to establish roots and send up flower stalks to open in late December
Here are some tips to boost your success
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Stagger planting dates – Plant one bulb the first week of November, another 1-2 weeks later. This accounts for variability and extends bloom time.
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Buy larger bulbs – Bulbs 30/32+ cm yield more blooms per stalk and multiple stalks. More blooms mean a longer show.
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Provide warmth – Amaryllis prefer steady warmth around 70°F while growing. Avoid drafty areas.
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Turn pots – Rotate pots regularly for even growth and straight stalks.
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Give bright light – A sunny window or bright room is ideal. Avoid direct hot sun.
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Water carefully – Check soil and water when just the top inch or two dries out. Don’t overwater.
Follow this schedule, and your amaryllis will be perfect for Christmas!
Step-by-Step Planting Instructions
Planting amaryllis bulbs is straightforward. Here are the steps:
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Fill the pot one-third with commercial potting mix. Mound soil in the center.
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Place the bulb on the mound with roots down. Leave the top one-third exposed.
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Fill in around the bulb with soil. Firm gently without packing too tight.
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Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom. Empty excess water.
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Add decorative mulch like moss or stones (optional).
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Place the pot in a warm, bright, indoor spot.
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Turn the pot regularly for even growth. Stake tall stalks for support.
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Water moderately when the top inch of soil dries out. Don’t overdo it.
Follow this simple process, and you’ll have Christmas amaryllis in no time!
Caring Through the Season
Keep your amaryllis thriving with proper care:
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Cut spent blooms just below the flower to encourage reblooming.
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Keep pots in a sunny window and water when the top inch of soil dries.
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Feed every 2-3 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer during active growth.
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Allow all foliage to die back naturally after blooming concludes in spring.
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Stop watering in late summer. Store dormant bulbs in a cool, dark place for 6-8 weeks.
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After the rest period, remove dead leaves. Repot and restart the growth cycle.
With attentive care, you can enjoy amaryllis flowers long after the holidays!
Saving Bulbs to Rebloom
You can save amaryllis bulbs to rebloom in following years. Here’s how:
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Allow foliage to grow until it yellows naturally after flowering.
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Move the potted bulb to a sunny outdoor location in late spring once danger of frost has passed.
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Allow the bulb to remain in the pot. Keep it watered and fertilized through summer.
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In early fall, cut off yellowed foliage and bring pots indoors.
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Place in a cool (55°F), dark location for 6-10 weeks to rest. Do not water.
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After rest period, repot in fresh soil. Water sparingly and move to a warm, sunny spot.
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New growth will emerge, and blooms will follow!
Reblooming takes patience, but it’s rewarding to regrow these heirloom bulbs.
Choosing a Christmas Amaryllis Bulb
Amaryllis is one of the most spectacular bulbs, particularly around Christmas time. They are sturdy and have stunning blooms with a wide range of colors, including reds, oranges, pinks and whites. You can also find bicolor varieties and unique colors, like green!
The first step to growing amaryllis is to choose the bulb! Make sure your bulb is healthy, without any spots or mold. Start with a larger bulb, measuring about 11 inches in circumference; this will ensure that the flower has good stems to support the blooms.
If working with a new, dormant bulb, you will want to plant about 10-12 weeks before the desired bloom time. Bulbs should be kept cool until planting time (note: amaryllis do not require a true ‘chilling period’ like some other bulb varieties like hyacinth or crocus do).
If you are forcing blooms on amaryllis that was in your summer garden, cut back the flower stalks after summer blooming, but let the foliage continue to grow. Stop feeding in August. Then, in September, stop watering it and bring it indoors, storing it in a cool, dry spot. This will trigger a short dormancy.
The foliage will start to die, and the lack of water will force another flower stalk to grow. Once you see a new, green stalk begin to emerge, you can relocate the plant to a warm location and resume watering.
How to Care for Your Christmas Amaryllis
Plant your amaryllis in a pot that is just large enough to accommodate the bulb and no more. They only need 1-2 inches wider than the diameter of the bulb for healthy growth. Choose a festive Christmas-themed pot if you want to go all-out.
The soil should be well-draining to prevent root rot. You can place a small stake in the soil to help stabilize it while it roots. Make sure there is a couple of inches of soil beneath the bulb, and that about a third of the bulb is above the soil line. Water right after planting, ensuring the excess moisture is draining, and then leave it alone until you see the green growth emerge.
Amaryllis bulbs require bright, indirect light and an ideal temperature for successful forcing, typically around 70-75℉. At this point in their growing cycle, no feeding is necessary. Forcing amaryllis slowly is crucial to develop sturdy stems. Even if the leaves aren’t opening easily, that’s alright—it’s the sturdy stems that are important! Rotate the pot every few days to keep the stems growing straight.
Amaryllis Done Blooming? Here’s What to Do // Garden Answer
FAQ
When should I start my amaryllis bulb for Christmas?
If you want blooms on December 25, plant amaryllis bulbs the first week of November. If you’re not too fussy about the actual timing of the bloom, then start them anytime during the month of November. It’s not like you’d be sad to have a giant red flower blooming in your house in January.
When should I wake up my amaryllis?
Keep in mind that if you want amaryllis for the holidays, you’ll have to put them away by October and get them out by late November or early December…and even then, there’s no guarantee when they will bloom. When they’ve rested in the cool and dark for at least two months, take out each bulb.
How do I get my amaryllis to bloom again for Christmas?
When to start forcing bulbs for Christmas?
Ideally, place potted bulbs outdoors three weeks before the first hard frost. Bring bulbs indoors and top growth begins.Nov 11, 2015
When should I plant amaryllis bulbs?
To ensure blooms around Christmas, plant amaryllis bulbs about 10-12 weeks before the desired bloom time. Bulbs should be kept cool until planting time, but note that amaryllis do not require a true ‘chilling period’ like some other bulb varieties.
Will Amaryllis bloom for Christmas?
However, they will bloom in spring. In order to grow amaryllis to bloom for Christmas, follow the growing schedule outlined below. Amaryllis bulbs are sold in the fall. At this time they are dormant, meaning they don’t have any leaves or active growth. Look for bulbs that are clean and dry with lots of roots coming out of the base.
When do amaryllis bulbs Bloom?
Amaryllis are popular festive home decorations The planting window for amaryllis bulbs is actually quite a long one: you can plant the bulbs starting in October through to the end of April. The bulbs often take from 6-8 weeks to flower, depending on their growing conditions, and it means they can bloom all the way through to early summer.
How do you plant an amaryllis for Christmas?
To force an amaryllis to grow for Christmas, choose a festive pot and well-draining soil. Place the bulb in the pot with about a third above the soil line and a couple of inches of soil beneath it. You can also place a small stake in the soil to help stabilize the plant.
Do amaryllis bulbs need a chilling period?
Amaryllis do not require a true ‘chilling period’ like some other bulb varieties like hyacinth or crocus do. If working with a new, dormant bulb, you will want to plant about 10-12 weeks before the desired bloom time. Bulbs should be kept cool until planting time.
How long does Amaryllis take to bloom?
The bulbs often take from 6-8 weeks to flower, depending on their growing conditions, and it means they can bloom all the way through to early summer. It may take a while for amaryllis to get going, but it is worth the wait when the plant blooms.