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Holiday Amaryllis
Written By: Jeannie Chambers - The Accidental Gardener | Issue: 2018/12 - December
Hippeastrum, commonly known as Amaryllis got its name from William Herbert, a British botanist in the early 19th century. Derived from the ancient Greek words hippeus- meaning knight, and astron meaning star. Knight’s Star sounds rather medieval, but that’s OK because its majestic appearance marches into our homes during the bleakness of winter like a knight in shining armor.
Amaryllis is one of the easiest plants you will ever have the pleasure of growing. December is the best time to find them in stores offering them in ready-to-grow pots. The genus Hippeastrum is originally from South America, and has 90 species and over 600 cultivars in its family. The Hippeastrum genus shouldn’t be confused with the other Amaryllis from South Africa. The South African Amaryllis is the only genus of the Amaryllidnae and although it looks similar, it isn’t the same plant. The plants we see in stores are Hippeastrum, and are known for being houseplants in our region, but can be set outside as a porch plant during summer. Before it gets cold in the fall, bring the plant in, bare the bulb and start all over.
With a bare bulb, the planting instructions are almost as easy as the pre-planted ones. Since blooms start between seven to 10 weeks after planting, store the bulbs in a cool dry place (40-50 degrees) until you’re ready to plant. You can store the bulbs in your refrigerator, but not near apples as they will sterilize the bulbs. At planting time, set the bulbs in lukewarm water for an hour or so to acclimate them, then plant them in a potting mix just up to the neck of the bulb. Water, but don’t saturate, and then tamp the dirt around the bulb to secure it. Place in a nice sunny location in your home, and after green shoots appear, you can water a little more. The plant container you choose should only be slightly larger than the bulb’s largest circumference.
An amaryllis can be the gift that keeps on giving, but be sure to get one for yourself so you can see the magical giant blooms appear during the gray days of winter.
