Plant amaryllis with the neck one-third to one-half above the mix. For Christmas bloom, pot in early to mid-November. Water once, then wait for growth.
Plant for a holiday or later show
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Early to mid-November for Christmas; anytime you have a firm bulb for a later show | Counting on a kit to bloom on a date you did not back-time |
| Force window | Dutch-grown often 6 to 8 weeks; South African often 3 to 5 | Assuming every bulb opens in three weeks |
| Depth | Top one-third to one-half of the bulb above the mix | Burying the neck |
| First water | Thoroughly once, then wait until the mix dries or growth shows | Daily water on a dormant bulb |
Count backward from the date you want flowers. Dutch-grown bulbs often take 6 to 8 weeks; South African bulbs often take 3 to 5. [1] Early to mid-November is the usual Christmas potting window. [2]
When should I plant amaryllis bulbs?
About 6 to 8 weeks before you want flowers for a Dutch-grown holiday force. Early to mid-November is the usual Christmas window. A later show can start whenever the bulb is firm.
How to plant
- Pick a firm, dry bulb with no soft spots. Larger bulbs make more stalks. [3]
- Use a snug pot with drainage and a well-drained mix. Skip a thin coir disk if it does not fill the pot.
- Set the bulb so the top one-third to one-half stays above the mix. Firm around the roots. [4]
- Water thoroughly once and drain. Do not water again until the mix surface dries or a shoot shows.
- Place in a warm (70 to 75°F), bright room. When the scape rises, rotate the pot. Move a little cooler once flowers open.
How deep do I plant the bulb?
Leave the top one-third to one-half of the bulb above the mix. Do not bury the neck.
What fails a planting
- Soil over the neck — rot starts at the nose.
- A pot with no drainage — pre-planted kits sometimes have none. Drill holes or move the bulb.
- Watering every day before growth — the bulb sits wet and fails.
- Restarting a tired bulb with no rest — if it just finished a leafy summer, rest it first on How to Grow Amaryllis.
Christmas Gift and Red Lion use the same depth and calendar. Snug pot and staking stay on Amaryllis in Containers.
Neck above the mix, one thorough watering, then wait. Count 6 to 8 weeks for a Dutch-grown holiday show.
FAQ
The kit has a compressed coir disk. Should I use it?
Only if it expands enough to fill the pot. Many disks do not. A regular well-drained potting mix is easier.
Can I plant amaryllis in the garden?
In a frost-free season, you can sink the whole pot outdoors after you harden it. Direct-in-ground planting is a warm-climate job; most of this page is the indoor force.
Do I water right after planting?
Yes, once, thoroughly, then drain. Wait until the mix dries or a shoot appears before watering again.
The bulb already has a shoot. Can I still plant it?
Yes. Pot it at the same depth, water once, and put it in bright light. Handle the shoot so it does not snap.
Should I rest the bulb before I plant?
A newly bought dormant bulb is ready to pot. A bulb that just grew leaves all summer should rest 8 to 10 weeks first.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Iowa State Extension -
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/all-about-amaryllis - [2] Clemson HGIC -
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/amaryllis/ - [3] Wisconsin Horticulture -
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/amaryllis-hippeastrum/ - [4] UMN Extension -
https://extension.umn.edu/houseplants/amaryllis
This note is part of Hippeastrum Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors