The Exotic
Amaryllis
Hyppeastrum

The amaryllis (Hippeastrum) is a bulb flower that is bold, showy and simply gorgeous! Easy to grow, success is almost assured by simply giving it warmth, light and water. The plant is a large bulb that can be found already in a container or ``bareroot" and you will need to pot it up. Huge flower trumpets bloom in reds, pinks, white, salmon, tangerine and bi-colors. There are even striped varieties. The flowers can be larger in size than your hand and some are captivatingly fragrant. They sit on top of thick stems rising from the bulb and hover over strap-like leaves.

Amaryllis need an abundance of direct sunlight when planted indoors. While actively growing, water them well and don't let the container sit in a saucer of water more than an hour after watering. The soil needs to be fast draining because the roots don't ``breathe" well in overly wet soil. Eventually the bulb will rot. Use two parts spahgnum peat moss to one part each of soil and sand. The container should be no larger in diameter than the bulb except by two to three inches. The widest part of the bulb should be at the soil line, leaving at least half of the bulb above the soil. Use your favorite fertilizer in a diluted state every two weeks.

After the flowers are spent, cut back the stem. Continue watering and fertilizing to encourage strong leaf growth. This will also fatten up the bulb during spring and summer. Stop watering in the fall and put the pot in a dark place like a closet. Remove the leaves only when they have dried naturally—about four to six weeks. Continue this dormancy for another month or until you see signs of flower buds. At this time feed, water and put it back into the sun to nurture it for another wonderful season of bloom.

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