Amaryllis for Valentine's Day - Results!

Happy Valentine's Day.  Mother Nature apparently thinks we are still back at New Year's Day, with below zero temperatures that just won't release their grip this year.  Normally, by Valentine's day, we can almost feel spring thaw in the air, but not this year.  Thank goodness for indoor gardening. 

Today I want to show you what happened with those amaryllis bulbs I planted about six weeks ago.  They are definitely brightening up the gloomy winter days.

Once the amaryllis blossom is opened, I remove the pollen covered anthers with a sharp scissors.  This keeps the pollen from staining things it might drop onto, but also extends the life of the blossom.

During the bloom time, the amaryllis should be kept in moist, but not soggy soil and set in an area of bright light, but not direct sunlight.  This will also help prolong the life of the blossoms.

Amaryllis need to be potted in small pots, with about 1/3 of the bulb above the top of the soil.  When the blossoms are fully open, they become top heavy and the flower stalk may bend and tip the pot over on its side.  I use small twigs cut from trees, stuck down to the bottom of the planters, being careful not to touch the bulb.  Any type of dowel can be used, but I like the natural look of the twigs.  The top of the flower stem, just below the blossoms, should be secured to the twig with some type of soft yarn or floral tape.

Once the blossoms are spent, the flower stalk should be trimmed back as close to the bulb as possible, again without damaging the bulb.  The amaryllis should have developed strappy leaves by this time.  Water and fertilize the bulbs weekly with a bloom-boosting fertilizer.  Keep the plant in a brightly lit window, with normal house type temperatures.  During this time, the bulb is storing nutrients and developing next year's flowers.  For Valentine's treats next year, keep them growing until late fall, then stop watering and allow the foliage to dry off.  Store the dried bulbs in a cool, dry place for about six weeks, until about Christmas time, then repot them if necessary, and bring them to a warm, well-lighted place and begin waterning normally.  In another six weeks, they will produce another mass of blooms, just in time for Valentine's day.

Amaryllis blossoms make a wonderful centerpiece for a cut flower bouquet, as well.  Simply cut the flower stalk close to the bulb and put it immediately into fresh water.  The stalks hold a lot of syrupy water, so be prepared with a towel to place at the bottom of the stalk when you cut it, if you need to carry it anywhere to get it into the vase.  They work well with any other type of flower.  I like to buy one of those packages of inexpensive cut flowers in bright colors that show  up in grocery stores and other places, especially this time of the year.  I just add my cut amaryllis to them, and I have an instant bouquet.  Beautiful!

It's a whole lot better to get up and watch the sunrise with this view in front of me than just the wide expanse of dirty white that is the front yard right now.