Many people buy Amaryllis for holiday decorating--the huge, brightly colored blooms have become a familiar centerpiece in many homes. But Amaryllis require lots of light and water, and may be difficult to maintain indoors indefinitely. The solution? Move your Amaryllis to the patio when the weather warms up. Or think completely outside the boxor porch, as the case may beand transplant your holiday Amaryllis into your garden, where you can enjoy it well beyond the holidays.
Bloom-happy Amaryllis is desirable in almost any garden, given the various colors and shapes of its many cultivars. Amaryllis makes a great landscape plant. Of course, these beauties are much easier to care for in a garden if the climate and soil are right.
Climate
Amaryllis is hardy to USDA zone 7b. It prefers a warm temperature (70 degrees to 75 degrees F) for best growth. If you live in a warmer area, you may even want to buy Amaryllis bulbs specifically for your garden--you can usually get them anytime in the spring or fall.
Soil
Amaryllis grows well in almost any good garden soil, as long as the site is well-drained. A container or raised-bed garden is ideal, allowing you complete control over the soil mixture. If you would like to plant the bulbs directly into the soil, amend the soil with sand and peat before planting.
Because Amaryllis actually like confined spaces, you can just plunge the entire container into the ground up to the rim, making it easier if you decide to dig it up for the next holiday season. If you plant Amaryllis bulbs directly into the ground, space them about a foot apart. Plant the bulb where it just peaks above the soil surface, leaving the tops lightly covered.
Planting
Plant new bulbs outdoors in late September or early October for spring flowers. If you are transplanting an Amaryllis that was grown indoors over the holidays, be careful not to shock it. Gradually acclimate the indoor plants to brighter light by moving them to a porch or patio area for a few days before planting them in the garden.
Ideally, you should plant your Amaryllis where it gets bright sun early in the day and shade in the afternoon. Avoid placing the bulb where it will dry out excessively; i.e., areas exposed to wind and prolonged sunlight. If you plan on leaving your Amaryllis in the ground all year, add a good organic mulch for insulation, especially during the fall and winter months.
Maintaining
After summer has passed and the weather starts to cool, your Amaryllis will die back. The plant is now going into dormancy. If you are planning to dig up your bulbs for decorating next season, it's best to do that just as they go dormant, and store them in a cool dry place. If you live in a place warm enough for your Amaryllis bulbs to survive the winter in the ground, you can simply leave them in your garden to greet you every spring with huge colorful flowers.
But what to do about holiday decorating when last years Amaryllis are happily part of your permanent landscape? Why, just buy new ones to use for decorating the house. Then transplant those, as well, and eventually you will have a garden filled with brightly colored Amaryllis flowers.
Edgar Freundlich is a garden writer for Jackson & Perkins.
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