Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
12/13/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Linda Naeve, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-2710, lnaeve@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Amaryllis Will Turn Anyone into a Gardener
By Linda Naeve
Extension Coordinator
Reiman Gardens
As a horticulturist, I hear people say they like plants but nothing will grow for them. Someone even confessed that a houseplant in her care was a death sentence for that plant. This week's Reiman's Pick, amaryllis, will make a gardener out of anyone, even those without a green thumb. In fact, while a student at Iowa State University, George Washington Carver identified the amaryllis as one of the "best bulbs for the amateur" at an annual meeting of the Iowa State Horticulture Society. Amaryllis bulbs make great inexpensive gifts. Bulbs and planting kits are available for sale in garden centers, grocery stores and discount stores throughout the holiday season.
The amaryllis, Hippeastrum, is a tender, flowering bulb that originated in the tropical areas of South America. Amaryllis produces a long, strong flower stalk, 18 to 24 inches tall with two to four large, lily-like flowers on top. Depending on the cultivar, the blooms can be five to ten inches across and range in color from pure white to salmon, pink and red. Many cultivars with colorful combinations such as 'Peppermint Stick,' which produces pure white blossoms swirled with cardinal red. A popular variety, 'Apple Blossom,' produces large white flowers blotched with soft pink and a mint green throat. Miniature amaryllis cultivars also are available, such as 'Scarlet Baby,' that produce somewhat smaller flowers on a much shorter flower stalk.
Amaryllis are different from other types of bulbs that gardeners force into bloom and are much easier to grow. Amaryllis do not require a cold period in order to bloom. They simply need to be potted up and watered. Tulips and daffodils that are forced into bloom cannot be forced into bloom the following year, but amaryllis, if cared for properly, will reward the gardener with blooms year after year.
Select an amaryllis bulb that is firm and without blemishes. Larger bulbs produce more flowers and may even produce more than one flower stalk, so the larger the bulb, the better. Plant the bulb in a container that is only three to four inches wider than the bulb and has a drainage hole in the bottom. Use a light, well-drained potting mixture. Fill the pot about a third full of soil, place the bulb in the center of the pot and add more soil. When you are through potting, the top third of the bulb should be above the soil line. Firm the soil around the bulb and water it with enough lukewarm water that the excess drains out the drainage hole. After the initial watering, add water sparingly until the first shoots appear. Once growth begins, water whenever the soil appears dry. Place the amaryllis in a sunny, warm room; a room with southern exposure is best. You won't have to wait long to see a shoot rise from the center of the bulb. Amaryllis grow and flower quickly - about six to eight weeks after planting. Varieties with extra large blooms might need staking to prevent them from being top heavy. The flowers will last longer if the temperature is kept at about 65 to 70 degrees.
Carefully cut the stalk off just above the bulb after the flowers fade. In order to bloom again, the bulb needs to restock its food supply, so it is important to keep the foliage growing. Fertilize with a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer once a month as long as the leaves are green. Gardeners who have good luck re-blooming their amaryllis often plant them in a semi-sunny location in their garden after the threat of frost is past. The pots can be buried up to the rim and then forgotten except for watering during dry periods.
In September, dig the pots and bring them indoors. If the leaves are still green, withhold watering for a while so they slowly turn yellow and dry. Remove the dried leaves and store the bulb in a cool, dark location, like a basement, for eight to 10 weeks. The bulb can be taken out of the soil or left in the pot while it is resting. After resting, pot the bulb in fresh potting soil and begin the forcing process. Except for occasional watering, fertilizing and repotting, the amaryllis nearly takes care of itself. It's the perfect gift for even the not-so-gifted gardener on your list.
You can see beautiful double, red 'Peacock' amaryllis among the hundreds
of poinsettias, evergreens, paper whites, and topiaries now on display
in the Conservatory at Reiman Gardens.
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