Amaryllis – features of growing at home

If you want to refresh your room’s interior, add something special, bright, and exotic, the amaryllis will perfectly handle this task, delighting you with its unique blooms.

Amaryllis is a monotypic genus of monocotyledonous plants in the Amaryllidaceae family. It was classified by Swedish taxonomist Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The popular decorative houseplant commonly referred to by this name is actually a hybrid Hippeastrum — true amaryllises are rarely grown indoors.

Amaryllis is a striking bulbous plant from the Amaryllidaceae family, featuring dark green, linear, strap-shaped leaves that are 40–60 cm long. In spring, it produces a sturdy, long flower stalk that forms 2 to 4 (rarely 6) large flowers up to 20 cm in diameter. The flowers have an elegant, broad shape and come in white, pink, or deep burgundy hues, often with white stripes or red streaks. Its natural habitat includes the subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas.

Growing Features

  • Light: Amaryllis is a light-loving plant, so it’s best placed on windowsills facing southwest or southeast.
  • Watering: Use room-temperature water without overwatering. Be sure to avoid getting water on the bulb itself.
  • Fertilizing: From May to August, feed the plant with mineral or organic fertilizers.

In August, reduce watering. Once the leaves die back, stop watering altogether. During the dormant period, keep the pots in a dry, dark, and cool place at a temperature of 10–16°C. Occasionally, about once a month, add water to the saucers to prevent root death.

From December to February, move the pots to a warm location (near a heating radiator) with a temperature of 20–25°C until the flower stalk appears. Once the stalk reaches a height of 4–5 cm, place the plant in a bright location and begin regular watering. Avoid early watering, as it may stimulate leaf growth and delay flowering. You can extend the amaryllis bloom period by keeping it at a lower temperature, around 18°C.

  • Repotting: Repot the plant every 3 years after flowering. Use a substrate of sod soil, leaf soil, humus, peat, and crushed brick (2:1:1:1:0.5), ensuring the pot has a drainage hole and a layer of drainage material (crushed brick, expanded clay, or sand) about 2–2.5 cm thick. Inspect the bulb, remove old soil, and cut out any rotten areas, dry sections, or damaged roots. Dust cuts with crushed charcoal. When planting, submerge only 2/3 of the bulb’s height. Place repotted plants in warm and bright locations.
  • Pots: Use small ceramic pots, ensuring there’s a gap of at least 1.5–2 cm between the bulb and the pot’s edges.

For growing amaryllis without a dormant period, keep the plant year-round in a sunny window in a warm room with regular moderate watering using room-temperature water.

  • Propagation: Amaryllis can be propagated by bulbs or seeds.

According to Feng Shui, amaryllis has positive energy that helps maintain emotional balance and make the right decisions. It adds vigor and freshness to its owner, so it’s better not to place it in bedrooms.