Most people treat their amaryllis bulbs as one-and-done. Once their bulbs bloom, they're in the trash. The fact is, amaryllises get better over time. The bulbs get bigger, producing more flower stems. You can keep them going for years. The leaves make a lively backdrop for other plants. Here are some steps for taking care of your amaryllis all year.
After your flowers fade, cut the stem down at the bulb level. Your amaryllis is now a leafy backdrop to your other houseplants. Just water it regularly and feed it with Miracle Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food every 7-14 days or Osmocote® Outdoor & Indoor Smart-Release® Plant Food. Also, keep your amaryllis in the sun. More sun will translate into bigger blooms later.
Once the nighttime temperatures stay above 50 degrees outside, bring your amaryllis into the garden. You can either leave it in its pot or dig it into the ground. Since your amaryllis loves sun, just keep it well fed and watered to help it produce more leaves. Leaves are important for photosynthesis, which is how the bulb is fed. Healthier bulbs produce healthier blooms. Just make sure you bring your amaryllis back indoors before the first frost.
You can make your amaryllis bloom at a roughly predictable time. All you have to do is force a dormant period on it. Dig up your bulb wash it off and let it dry. Cut off the foliage, leaving about 1 inch, and then put the bulb away someplace cool and dark, with good air circulation. After about 8 weeks, look for signs of budding, which are your signal to plant the bulb again. So if you want b looms on New Year's, for instance, count back 8 weeks to start the process. If you don't care when your amaryllis blooms, don't bother with forcing a dormant stage.
