By Terra Hangen, Guest Blogger
Brilliant red, snowy white and rosy pink amaryllis blooms bring a festive air to your home. Since amaryllis bulbs are so easy to grow you might consider purchasing a Twinkle Twinkle, Candy Floss or another cheerfully named amaryllis variety now for your home or as a holiday gift--or both!
You need not have a green thumb to successfully grow amaryllis, and they are intriguing to look at from the moment you plant their bulbs. As the thick stalks rise up on the plant, visitors will stop in their tracks and say, “Wow, what is that?”
Yes, these are spectacular holiday plants, even before they bloom.
To get started with your own amaryllis, select a bulb that will provide big flowers, six to eight inches across. You can visit a local nursery or purchase a bulb (or bulbs) from reputable online retailers (see below). By nurturing and fertilizing the bulbs, the growers have done much of your work for you. The plant's energy is stored in the bulb, so all you need to do is provide a sunny indoor location near a window and water once or twice a week.
With regard to containers, you have two options: buy a bulb already growing in a pot or purchase an individual bulb and select one of your own flowerpots. The container should have a drainage hole and be slightly wider than the bulb. Add a small amount of potting soil, tuck in the bulb (leaving the top third uncovered), and prepare to watch it grow. I add colored glass florist’s marbles on top of the soil for a pretty effect. Also, ceramic pots are ideal containers since their weight helps stabilize the plants as their huge flowers open. As the sturdy stalks grow quickly, simply turn the pot to keep the stalks heading straight up. After the holidays, amaryllis can be planted outside in zones 8 to 11 or kept indoors in their pots for blooms next year.
When can you expect to see your flowers bloom this year? Dutch amaryllis bloom six to eight weeks after planting; South African amaryllis bloom in four to six weeks.
Many people think of amaryllis as coming strictly in shades of white, red or pink. There are many more colors available, however. Popular South African varieties include: Twinkle Twinkle Holiday Star--also called Star of Holland--that blooms in glorious red with a white star in the center; Lemon Lime in a rare delicate lime color; Candy Floss with deep rose pink flowers; and the pure white Al Fresco. Merry Christmas Amaryllis is the most popular bulb in Europe. It has red velvet blooms that are eight inches across on twelve-inch stems. As the name suggests, it’s perfect for the holidays!
Spectacular Dutch amaryllis include: the appealing red-and-white striped Clown or Candy Cane; Minerva with its white center and red edges; Red Lion with its bold cherry color; and the refreshing pink Rozetta. A new Dutch amaryllis called Dancing Queen has white double flowers streaked with red, each measuring eight inches across. Grand Cru has the deepest burgundy blooms imaginable, all on twenty-four-inch stems.
Amaryllis come in so many hues and are easy to grow--certainly one of them is perfect for your own holiday decor.
Terra Hangen co-authored Scrapbook of Christmas First: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday (Leafwood Publishers, 2008). The publication includes many "green thumb" tips to brighten your home with natural adornments.
Explore More Online:
Most nurseries and many retail stores stock standard amaryllis bulbs for the holidays. For more exotic varieties, Terra Hangen suggests the following online plant purveyors:
Readers: Tell us...what are your favorite tips for amaryllis care? Do you have a favorite to grow and/or give? Any great Texas-based nurseries that stock these gorgeous bulbs?
Image credit: © Anita Nowack | Dreamstime.com
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