The $10 Amaryllis kit came with a bulb, growing medium, and a pot too ugly to photograph.
In Alaska's darkest season, it's helpful to look forward to longer days of light, and of colorful winter blooms. Growing indoor flowers from winter bulbs is one common way to do just that. It seems fitting, too, as many bulbs need periods of dark, light - and cold - in order to bloom.
The manager of a local garden supply store shared her strategy for starting one or two bulbs each week for blooms that last throughout the winter. That seemed like a great idea at the time, until I saw the price of the bulbs - around $10 each. For that price, I could buy a small bouquet each week, but of course I wouldn't get the pleasure of planting and nurturing my bulb.
So I started with just one Amaryllis kit that came with:
- the bulb (larger than expected)
- one brick of growing "medium" (or "mystery dirt")
- green pot (ugly enough to justify buying a different one)
- instructions (easy, and in English!)
The planting process was very straightforward and easy to do with the kids. Unwrap the brick, add 4 cups of water, wait for it to soak in, and plant the bulb. In 6 to 8 weeks we should be seeing some color. The instructions also indicate that "this plant will bloom for many years." I just need to allow it to go dormant in summer, either inside or outside the house. If this actually works, I can see how a person could build a nice little collection over the years in order to perpetuate that constant-blooming cycle through winter.
The floating "growing medium," which looks kind of like a hamburger at this stage.
The planted bulb. Now, to keep it warm, moist, and out of direct sunlight.
Of course, this is bulb-basics 101. I understand that there are wonderful things that can be done with freezing and forcing bulbs to grow. Do you have any suggestions or comments on bulb growing as a winter gardening activity? What's your favorite or most consistently successful bulb?
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I had a collection of amaryllis, but I can’t quite figure out how to get them to go dormant. I had them in the fridge for a while, but when I took them out and tried to plant them, 2 of them got moldy, and 2 of them turned to dust. Prior to that, they had been keeping their green leaves indefinitely until I refrigerated them. I am only keeping what I have gotten for gifts this year. Any recommendations on how to get them ready to bloom again?
It’s surprisingly easy, Cecily. After they bloom, there will be lots of green foliage. Let it grow through the spring and summer, continuing to water as necessary. I keep mine outside in the summer; you can put the pot outdoors or even plant it in the ground.
Towards the end of August, take the whole plant indoors, put it in a dark closet and leave it there for about 6 weeks—no water, light or heat.
When it looks really, really dead, take it out, throw away the dead leaves, water it well, and place it in a sunny window. Don’t water it again until you see green shoots start to peek out (it may be 4-8 weeks; be patient!) Now the cycle will begin again; you should have flowers around Christmastime.
I’ve had several amaryllis bulbs for 3-4 years, and they’re quite healthy. One even divided last year. These instructions work perfectly (credit Martha Stewart!)
I’m not sure how you would get them how to bloom more than once a year, or even if that’s possible. Good luck, though!