Ann is an avid gardener, cook and garden writer, and a Vermont Certified Horticulturist. She tends to her old farmhouse and organic homestead where she raises blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and elderberries, as well as fruit and nut trees. Ann grows vegetables and herbs in raised beds and containers that are tucked into a lush landscape of perennial gardens in the scenic Winooski River Valley. A trained horticulturist and ecological landscape designer, she is the author of four gardening books, including Organic Gardening for Dummies, and is a longtime contributor to many magazines, websites and other publications.
Many people wonder if you can get amaryllis bulbs to rebloom. Yes! It’s easy because amaryllis are forgiving plants.
“The flowers faded months ago, but I can’t bear to throw it out. I’d like to save it and see if I can get it to bloom again. What should I do?”
Blooming amaryllis bulbs make spectacular holiday gifts and recipients invariably want to keep the plants in hopes of a repeat performance and to honor the gift-giver. Fortunately, amaryllis are forgiving plants. All they need to bloom again is a season in the garden to replenish the bulbs. Giving the bulbs a summer vacation of fresh air, sunshine and moist, fertile soil is the best way to keep them healthy and to increase their size and flowering potential.
After the blossoms have faded, cut off the flowers, but leave the stalk until it withers. If any leaves have grown, leave them alone. Like other flowering bulbs, amaryllis use leaves to replenish nutrients within the bulb and fuel future growth. Treat your amaryllis like a house plant for the rest of the winter; place it in a sunny window and continue to water and feed the plant regularly with a liquid houseplant fertilizer, such as All-Purpose Organic Fertilizer.
Amaryllis are popular bulb flowers that produce tall stalks with large, showy blooms in colors like red, pink, white, salmon, and bi-colors. They make stunning additions to indoor spaces during the winter months.
While amaryllis bulbs are often sold and given as gifts around the holidays many people don’t realize that with proper care these bulbs can rebloom year after year. By following some simple tips, you can keep your amaryllis blooming season after season.
Caring for Amaryllis After Initial Blooming
Once your amaryllis has finished blooming, there are a few things you need to do to prep it for reblooming.
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Cut off spent blooms to prevent the plant from putting energy into seed production. Remove faded flowers promptly, cutting the stem 1/2 to 1 inch above the bulb.
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Allow the flower stalk to remain until it turns yellow, then cut it off. The stalk is still able to photosynthesize while green and provide energy to the bulb.
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Keep the foliage and continue caring for the plant. Water when the top few inches of soil become dry. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.
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Move the amaryllis plant outdoors once warmer weather arrives (above 50F at night). Place in a spot with 6+ hours of sunlight. Continue regular watering and fertilizing through the summer growing season.
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Bring the plant back indoors in early fall before night temperatures drop below 50F.
Forcing Amaryllis Bulbs Into Dormancy
To get amaryllis to rebloom on schedule, they need a rest period of 8-10 weeks where they are kept cool, dark, and dry There are two approaches
Timed Forced Dormancy:
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To time blooms for the holidays, stop watering/fertilizing 8-10 weeks before desired bloom time.
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Move bulb to a cool (55-60F) dark place like a basement or closet.
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Once leaves yellow, trim them off, leaving 1-2″ of stem.
Natural Dormancy:
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As summer ends, place the plant in a cool (50-60F) spot with bright, indirect light.
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Water sparingly, just enough to prevent complete drying out. Do not fertilize.
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Leaves will yellow and die back around December.
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Wait for new growth to emerge before watering again. This may happen during rest period or take 1-2 months after.
Caring for Amaryllis to Rebloom
Once your amaryllis bulb has gone through a sufficient dormancy period, you can coax it to rebloom by:
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Moving it to a warm (70-75F) sunny area. Resume regular watering and fertilizing.
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Support emerging flower stalks with bamboo stakes to prevent flopping.
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Choose a fertilizer with higher phosphorus to stimulate more blooms.
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Put the plant in the brightest location possible, with as much direct sun as you can provide.
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Remove spent blooms promptly after flowering concludes.
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Resume the same care routine as the previous post-bloom period.
Tips for Continual Amaryllis Reblooming
Here are some additional pointers to help keep your amaryllis blooming year after year:
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Repot bulbs every 2-3 years after dormancy in fresh potting mix. Amaryllis like being pot bound.
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Prevent bulb rot by not letting pots sit in water. Discard excess water from catch trays after watering.
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Inspect plants for common pests like spider mites, mealybugs, and treat accordingly.
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Look for wilting leaves as a sign plants need more frequent watering.
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Stake tall, top-heavy flower stalks for support and to prevent snapping.
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Be patient! It can take over 6 weeks for flower stalks to emerge after dormancy.
With the proper seasonal care, preparation for dormancy, and post-bloom maintenance, you can enjoy amaryllis blooms indoors every winter for many years to come. Just be sure to allow adequate rest periods between bloom cycles and resume fertilizing at the right times. Follow these tips, and your amaryllis bulbs will thrive and flower reliably for seasons to come!
When Warm Weather Arrives, Begin a Transition Outdoors
In spring, when the danger of frost has passed and daytime temperatures are above 50 degrees F., you can plant your bulb outdoors. It’s important to give it a slow transition to outdoor living. A couple of weeks of protected exposure to the sun and wind will prepare the bulb for life in the garden. For the first week, put the potted plant outdoors in a shady place out of the wind. If nighttime temperatures are predicted to go below 40 degrees F., bring them indoors in the evening and set them back out in the morning. In the second week, introduce them to morning sun or full exposure on cloudy days. Continue to protect the foliage from hot midday and afternoon sun. Keep the soil in the pot barely moist during this transition time.
Amaryllis benefit from a summer outdoors. For best growth and bloom potential, remove them from pots and plant them in the ground.
After the transition time, it’s safe to plant the bulb in the ground. Choose a site with well-drained, fertile soil that gets four to six hours a day of morning sun and afternoon shade. Avoid hot, sunny areas. To plant the bulb in the ground, tip the plant carefully out of its pot and gently unwind any circling roots. Set the plant into the garden soil so that the neck of the bulb is an inch or two above ground. Backfill with the amended soil, firm it gently, and water thoroughly.
If wet or heavy clay soil is unavoidable, keep the amaryllis in a pot with fresh potting soil. Be sure the container has drainage holes and is deep enough to accomodate a few inches of roots beneath the bulb. Amaryllis are content in a pot and this method ensures the bulb wont rot in a waterlogged area of the garden.
Througout the summer, protect the plant from slugs and snails. Feed with liquid fertilizer every six weeks. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy. The goal is to keep the bulb growing vigorously. Enjoy strong, green foliage, which feeds the bulb and will lead to more flower stems and buds later in the year.
Amaryllis benefit from a summer outdoors. For best growth and bloom potential, remove them from pots and plant them in the ground.
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Ann is an avid gardener, cook and garden writer, and a Vermont Certified Horticulturist. She tends to her old farmhouse and organic homestead where she raises blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and elderberries, as well as fruit and nut trees. Ann grows vegetables and herbs in raised beds and containers that are tucked into a lush landscape of perennial gardens in the scenic Winooski River Valley. A trained horticulturist and ecological landscape designer, she is the author of four gardening books, including Organic Gardening for Dummies, and is a longtime contributor to many magazines, websites and other publications.
Many people wonder if you can get amaryllis bulbs to rebloom. Yes! It’s easy because amaryllis are forgiving plants.
“The flowers faded months ago, but I can’t bear to throw it out. I’d like to save it and see if I can get it to bloom again. What should I do?”
Blooming amaryllis bulbs make spectacular holiday gifts and recipients invariably want to keep the plants in hopes of a repeat performance and to honor the gift-giver. Fortunately, amaryllis are forgiving plants. All they need to bloom again is a season in the garden to replenish the bulbs. Giving the bulbs a summer vacation of fresh air, sunshine and moist, fertile soil is the best way to keep them healthy and to increase their size and flowering potential.
Amaryllis thrive best in bright, indirect light.
After the blossoms have faded, cut off the flowers, but leave the stalk until it withers. If any leaves have grown, leave them alone. Like other flowering bulbs, amaryllis use leaves to replenish nutrients within the bulb and fuel future growth. Treat your amaryllis like a house plant for the rest of the winter; place it in a sunny window and continue to water and feed the plant regularly with a liquid houseplant fertilizer, such as All-Purpose Organic Fertilizer.
Amaryllis Done Blooming? Here’s What to Do // Garden Answer
FAQ
What do you do with an amaryllis bulb after it has bloomed?
- Cut off the spent flowers: Remove the faded blooms and stalks, but leave the leaves intact.
- Cut the stalks: Cut the flower stalks to about 1-2 inches above the bulb.
- Keep the leaves: The leaves are crucial for the bulb to store energy for future blooms, so don’t cut them back.
- Place in a bright spot: Keep the plant in a bright location, but not direct sunlight, and water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
How do I get my amaryllis to bloom after it grows long leaves?
- Cool and Dark: Move the amaryllis to a cool location (ideally between 45-55°F or 7-13°C) and a dark area, like a basement or closet.
- Dry Soil: Stop watering the plant completely during this dormancy period.
- Duration: Allow the plant to remain in dormancy for approximately 8 to 12 weeks.
- Foliage: Let the leaves naturally die back during this period, and then cut them off.
How to make amaryllis bloom last longer?
To extend the flowering period, move the plant to a cooler place. Re-pot every two or three years in January to March after flowering.Jan 4, 2025
Should I cut the leaves off my amaryllis?
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Don’t cut leaves while they’re green:Amaryllis leaves are vital for photosynthesis, which is how the plant creates energy. Cutting them while they’re still green deprives the plant of this energy source and can hinder its ability to bloom again.
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Wait for natural yellowing:Once the leaves naturally turn yellow and brown, the plant has finished storing energy and is entering a dormancy period. At this point, you can cut the leaves back to about 2 inches from the top of the bulb.
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After cutting, store the bulb:Once the leaves are cut, move the bulb to a cool, dark place for a few months to allow it to rest.
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Reintroduce to growth:After the rest period, bring the bulb back to a bright, warm location and resume watering and feeding to encourage new growth and blooms.
How do you take care of Amaryllis?
Cut near the base of the plant, taking care not to nick the bulb. Remove the flower stalks when the blooms are spent. Near the end of the season, the leaves will dry and shrivel. Wait until these are fully dead to pull them off. Staking amaryllis plants might be necessary if they get too tall and top-heavy.
How to get Amaryllis to bloom again?
Once the warm period is over, it is time to start the process on how to get amaryllis to bloom again. Once you have removed the amaryllis flower stalks, keep the plant in the same container. Even if it looks like it has outgrown the pot, amaryllis actually prefer to be snugly tucked into their containers.
Can I Save my Amaryllis bulb for next year’s blooms?
Saving your amaryllis bulb for next year’s blooms requires proper care and attention throughout the seasons. With the right steps, you can enjoy beautiful flowers year after year. Once your amaryllis flowers have faded, it’s time to remove them. Cut off the spent blooms close to the top of the stalk.
Do Amaryllis rebloom?
Once the bloom fades it is time to start the steps on how to get amaryllis to rebloom. Amaryllis grow from large bulbs and produce even larger flowers. The bulbs must be plump, unblemished, and healthy to grow the arching, strappy leaves, and exotic blooms. Do amaryllis rebloom and will amaryllis rebloom this year?
How do I get my Amaryllis bulb to bloom?
A new bulb will take off once it is planted and gets water. Place it in a sunny window and provide water when the soil is dry. This is all the stimulation a healthy amaryllis bulb will require to bloom. Bonnie Grant is a professional landscaper with a Certification in Urban Gardening.
How do you rebloom Amaryllis flowers?
To promote reblooming amaryllis flowers, you need them to experience cooler temperatures and low light. Place them in an area of around 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit (7-10 C) in a dark room for 8-10 weeks. If you do this in September, your bulb will be ready to be brought into warmth and light and begin to bloom just in time for the holidays.