Can You Regrow Amaryllis Bulbs?

Digging Up Bulbs

• Cut the amaryllis stalk when it turns yellow after the growing season. Press a spade or shovel into the soil at a depth of 4 to 6 inches to push the bulb through the soil. Wipe the dirt off the bulb. Place the bulb in a small plastic bag filled with peat moss. Label the bag. Store the amaryllis bulb in an area with temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. A dry basement or a garage is an optimal place for the dormant bulb.

Bulb Care

• Amaryllis bulbs need at least six to eight weeks of dormancy. If you live in a cold region, you may replant your amaryllis bulb in a container to force blooming during the winter months. Choose a container that is slightly larger than the bulb. This tropical plant likes being slightly root bound in the container. Place the container near a window that receives partial sunlight. Care for the amaryllis by watering the bulb and applying water-soluble fertilizer at the manufacturer-recommended rate every two to three weeks. After the plant has bloomed in the winter, dig it back up and store it for planting in the spring.

Replanting

• Amend the soil in the planting area with a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost. Remove any weeds that may compete with the amaryllis bulb for the soil's nutrients and moisture. Dig holes that are 2 to 3 inches in depth. Space out the bulbs 12 to 15 inches. Water the area after planting to moisten the soil. Spread a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch around the garden bed to keep weeds away from bulbs.

Other Factors

• You cannot regrow your amaryllis bulbs if they have contracted any type of disease or rot. Replanting diseased or rotting bulbs will not result in blooms and may spread the disease to other plants. Check your amaryllis bulbs for reddish lesions, dark areas or discoloration. Squeeze the bulb to see if it feels mushy. Avoid regrowing any mushy bulbs. To prevent harming your bulbs in the future, refrain from over-watering your plants. Excess water or poor soil encourages bulb rot.