Can I Overwater an Amaryllis Plant?

Characteristics

• Amaryllis flowers can be 6 to 10 inches wide in a variety of colors, including white, red, orange, striped, pink and several other shades. The flowers arise from a stalk that will grow 1 to 2 feet tall and comes up in winter with no chilling requirements or special handling. The bulb needs to be soaked with water only when it is planted and thereafter it should be watered lightly until dormancy. The bulb is dormant from December to January, when it sprouts. Flowers usually bloom anytime during February to April.

How to Start an Amaryllis Bulb

• The bulb needs to have had a cold period before you start it. If you purchase one at Christmas, it will have received cold treatment before packaging. If you have an old bulb, it needs at least 8 to 10 weeks in a cool environment before it is ready to start again. The bulb is grown in a mixture of two parts loam, one part perlite and one part manure or compost. The pot doesn't have to be much larger than the bulb and the bulb should be planted with the top half sticking out of the potting medium. This is the one time you water completely for a while. Wait until the roots have developed to water again or you risk rotting the bulb. Never let the plant sit in a saucer with water or it will mildew and mold.

Water During Growth

• The foliage will begin to appear within a week or two after the plant is potted and watered. The bulb will grow stronger foliage if it is kept where temperatures are not above 60 degrees. Once the plant has a sprout, monitor the moisture level in the pot. It should not be soggy but lightly damp. As soon as the plant has flowers it should be moved away from direct sunlight. Indirect or filtered light is best. Watering is performed only as needed. You can check for dryness by dipping your finger in soil up to the first knuckle.

Recharging the Bulb

• You can regrow an amaryllis for several years but it needs to have enough energy stored to perform again the following winter. After the flowers are done, cut them off but leave the foliage. You can move the plant outdoors in spring and summer to collect the suns energy. Fertilize the plant every two weeks with a soluble fertilizer applied in water. Give the plant moderate water until mid August and then withhold water totally. Move the plant to the basement or somewhere that it will receive temperatures around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The leaves will wither and die back. You can then pull the bulbs and wash the soil off of the roots. Lay them out on newspaper to dry for a day or two and then put them in a paper bag in a cool dry place until winter.