Feature Article - for release the week of December 9, 2007

Angela Sachson & Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture Staff

 

  Showy Amaryllis Comes Inside for the Holidays

You may have Amaryllis in your Florida Friendly landscape.  Chances are they bloom from March until May in light shade and well-drained soil.   They look like lilies but actually belong to a different plant  family.  (True Amaryllis do not grow in Florida, but these hybrids of the genus Hippeastrum do well in the Sunshine State. 

But folks up North do not enjoy our mild climate and so they force this beautiful plant to provide holiday color in deepest winter.

And, Amaryllis can put on quite a show.  Reds, whites, pinks and combinations of all these as well as salmon and burgundy can be found in one or another cultivar.  One bulb can produce an average of four blooms atop an 18 to 36 inch stalk.

Amaryllis can be grown in containers any time of the year.  You may want to bring in a bulb or two from outside, or purchase special holiday bulbs.  An amaryllis gift is fun, and it can also be an opportunity for children to plant and watch a fast-growing bulb.  The time from dormant bulb to flower is usually six to eight weeks.

Folks who do not get outside much or who are homebound will also enjoy this exclamation point of color in a low-maintenance bulb. Amaryllis develop so rapidly that it's fun to watch their progress from day to day. And, they're amazingly easy to grow.

Container Grown "Christmas Lilies" 

To grow Amaryllis, follow these instructions:

*       You can plant one or more bulbs of the same variety in a pot that's only slightly wider than the bulbs. The container doesn't have to be terribly deep, but it must have a drain hole at the bottom: It’s a good idea to weight it since the plant can be tall and floppy.  If you purchase a bulb with its own pot, make sure there is good drainage in the pot or punch holes on the bottom.

*       As you would for any indoor plant, use fresh, sterilized potting soil. Put a little soil in the bottom of the container; plant each bulb, making sure to spread the roots evenly. Leave two-thirds of each bulb showing above the soil.

*       Water the soil thoroughly when you plant. When it begins to grow, move the amaryllis to a bright, sunny spot. Only water it thoroughly whenever the soil feels dry to the touch, and do not over-water.  As the flower stalks are getting taller it helps to rotate the pot in front of a window so that they will grow straight up.  Sometimes amaryllis need to be staked and tied with a pretty bow.

*       Once the bloom appears, move the plant to a cooler, less sunny spot to prolong flowering.  The show-stopping flowers may be as wide as six inches across.  You can also plant more than one bulb in a larger container for even more drama!

*       After blooming appears finished, cut back to the top of the bulb and continue to water.  You may get another stalk of flowers.  When blooming is completed, plant the bulb outside in semi shade or, leave them in the pot, give them some dormancy in October, and force again next December. They also can be put into your Florida Yard.

 Choosing your Amaryllis

Are you in the market for Amaryllis?   There are literally hundreds of varieties available.  At this time of year, the florists and retail garden centers are pushing those with red, pink and white colored forms.  And then there are choices as to the color patterns: (Soft or bold; two tones with picot edging, stripes, lines, or spots; solid colors; and even tricolor).   And if that is not enough, there are different sizes (small, large, Dutch Giants) and shapes (flat singles, semi doubles, doubles, triples, trumpet, lily, and spiders) available.

 Here are some tips to help you pick out a high quality Amaryllis bulb as a holiday gift:

*       If purchasing dormant bulbs inspect to see if they are free from excess soil, are free from cuts or wounds, do not have any colored molds and be sure they have not yet begun to sprout.

*       When picking out a pre-potted plant, chose one that has the neck of the plant placed well above the soil line, the bulb is well rooted in the pot, that has many deep green leaves, is not leaning to one side, and is free of orange leaf-spot disease.  Also look for the flower spikes,  for multiple spikes to be well formed, and if early in the season, choose plants with buds that have not yet begun to show color.

 

Ghosts of Christmas (Articles) Past

If you need more information on the many different kinds of  holiday plants or want to know more about the folklore and traditions associated with them, go to our county Extension website and take a look.  And if you have any special holiday plants that I’ve not covered, please let me know and I will see what I can find.

Check with our office or website for more details on how to care for your amaryllis after it blooms.  I’ve placed more information on our Okeechobee web page, http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu.  If you need additional information on Christmas Amaryllis, please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469.  Local residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 3 PM on Tuesday afternoons.  Happy Holidays and GO GATORS!    

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Trade names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.  Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida.  Larry A.  Arrington, Dean. Last update: 12/10/2007.  This page is maintained by Dan Culbert