Once it is warm outside in the summer, many of my houseplants take up residence outdoors. Winter flowering plants such as amaryllis bulbs that are in pots enjoy a few months in the sun.
Amaryllis bulbs can be rebuilt so that they can bloom well the following winter indoors. Paper-white bulbs, however, will not bloom a second season, so they must be discarded.
When it is consistently warm outdoors take your Amaryllis bulbs out and put them in their pots somewhere where you will see them and so remember to water them. Their long strap-like leaves will stay green, and you can help the bulb regenerate by giving it some fertilizer for flowering plants, regularly.
They can also be kept inside if you wish as long as they are in a sunny window and fertilized.
In the fall bring the pots back indoors and store the pot in a cool (55 degrees) spot that is dark, like a basement or closet or garage, for 8-10 weeks. Then remove the dead leaves and place in a sunny window and start to water again. The warmer the temperature the faster the bulb will start to send up new leaves. Water only when the soil feels very dry. Do not over water or the bulb will rot! Provide as much sun as you can and rotate the pot to keep the leaves growing up tall and straight.
This is Moya Andrews, and today we focused on… rebuilding amaryllis.
