MARK CULLEN: Amaryllis Add Much Needed Colour to Your Home

By Mark Cullen

With a winter wonderland outdoors, gardeners are looking for ways to grow blooms indoors.  I always recommend growing an amaryllis.  They are easy to grow and provide an outstanding show.

The giant, chunky bulb that you can buy at garden centres, and the fancy packaged bulbs that you buy most anywhere have one thing in common: both feature a bulb that will produce enormous, trumpet-shaped flowers. The main difference, in most cases, is that the bare-naked bulb is generally much bigger. The rule of thumb is that the bigger the bulb, the more impressive the performance. A 22- to 24-centimetre bulb (measuring the circumference) produces a nice show. A 28- or 30-centimetre bulb will blow your mind. The size of the bulb is listed on the side of the package or the hang tag around the bulb itself.

Pot up the bulb in quality potting soil.  You will notice that the bulb has roots at one end and a "neck" at the other. In putting the bulb into the soil, be sure not to damage the roots and do not bury the neck. I leave the top half of the bulb exposed while burying the bottom half in the potting soil.

Place the pot in direct light in a room with average temperatures of about 20°C. Water sparingly but be sure to keep an eye on your bulb. Once the stem begins to grow, you will need to water more frequently. Don't let the soil become soggy. As the stem grows, turn the whole plant once every few days to encourage 3-4 evenly -sized flowers to bloom. It will take anywhere from seven to ten weeks for flowers to form.

This week I launched my 4th Annual Amaryllis photo contest.  If you are growing an amaryllis in your home, I encourage you to take a photo.  Enter the contest for a chance to win a gift card or a signed copy of my gardening book, The Canadian Garden Primer.  Click here for all contest details.

Once your Amaryllis has finished blooming it requires some attention.  Cut the flower stalk back to about 2" in height.  Allow the leaves to continue to grow and water when the soil feels dry.

This will allow the leaves to produce energy which the bulb will store for future blooms.  In the spring you can plant your Amaryllis (and the pot) in your garden. Find a location with partial shade and water during periods of drought.  Fertilize regularly with a high phosphate liquid plant fertilizer.  In late September bring the pot indoors and cut back the foliage.  Dry the bulb for 2 weeks at 65 degrees F and then store for about 10 weeks in a cool, dry, dark place.  At the end of this storage period you will need to repot your Amaryllis bulb in fresh potting mix and start the cycle again.

Mark Cullen appears on Canada AM every Wednesday morning at 8:40.  He is spokesperson for Home Hardware Lawn and Garden.  Sign up for his free monthly newsletter at www.markcullen.com.