Amaryllis for Christmas: When to Plant for Holiday Blooms

Amaryllises are popular flowers for the holidays. They start appearing on store shelves in gift and growing kits in the fall when the holiday displays go up. They make great gifts for houseplant and gardening enthusiasts, but they are also popular as alternative (or complementary) Christmas and New Year’s decorations.

Winter blooming Amaryllises collage.

If decorations and displays are what you’re after, and you want to have your amaryllis blooming for holiday decorating, you’ll need to plan ahead and plant ahead.

When Do You Plant Amaryllis for Christmas Blossoms?

Beautiful blooming amaryllis in a Christmas display
You’ll need to plant at least four weeks ahead to have your amaryllis blooming for Christmas.

Amaryllis grow quickly and can flower anywhere between four to eight weeks after they are planted. The average is around six weeks. It’s wise to start planting in early to mid-November if you want the plant to be flowering for Christmas.

Here are some tips for a successful blooming planting:

  • Amaryllises need to feel a root or pot bound to the flower. Plant your bulb(s) in a pot no bigger than one inch larger than the bulb (measured at the widest point of the bulb)
  • The pot should be twice as tall as the bulb so the roots have enough room to grow
  • It’s important that the pot has drainage holes
  • Plant in a good quality potting mix
  • An amaryllis planting kit should have all you need to start the bulb and the pot will be the right size
  • The bulbs should not be completely covered—about one-third of the bulb’s top should be sitting above the soil
  • When you first plant your bulb, take it to the sink and thoroughly water the plant until the soil is wetted all the way through
  • Leave the pot in the sink for an hour or so to allow all excess water to drain, then put the pot on a saucer and move it to a place with bright, indirect light
  • Do not overwater amaryllis bulbs
  • Let the top of the soil dry out between waterings.
  • Amaryllis prefers a cooler room over a warmer room (around 65 F or 18 C)

Plant More than One Bulb for More Reliable Blooms

Amaryllis bulbs growing at different speeds
By planting more than one bulb, you’ll have a better chance of hitting the bloom time just right for holiday displays.

Each amaryllis blossom will last for about two to three weeks. And of course, we can plan the best we can, but everyone’s growing conditions are a little different in their home, and plants will do what each individual plant naturally does.

Doing what comes naturally, of course, means the bulbs can have a little bit of a mind of their own. If you really want to hedge your bets for blossoms for Christmas (and potentially through New Year’s), plant more than one bulb.

  • The number of flowers that one bulb grows is related to the bulb size
  • Choose larger bulbs for more flowers
  • Flower stalks may also grow and bloom successively, so large bulbs with more flower stalks also increase the chances of having flowers for the holidays

Plant in Succession to Hedge Bets for the Right Bloom Time

Amaryllis plants at different flowering stages
Succession plant amaryllis bulbs every one to two weeks to give you a long bloom time and increase the odds that the plant will flower for the right days and parties.

Another way to increase the likelihood of having your amaryllis bulb blossom when you want it to is to plant a few bulbs in succession.

Plant one or more bulbs every week or every two weeks. If you choose to do this, start earlier than November—mid to late October—and plant weekly or biweekly through the month of November.

At the very least, you’ll have a long succession of blooms to enjoy over many weeks. If you plant every week, you have the best chance of hitting the holidays just right.

If you plant every two weeks, you should have at least one flower in bloom consistently for as many bulbs as you started. That could mean well over a month of beautiful blooms!

  • Amaryllis bulbs can be on the more expensive side, but with good aftercare, your bulb can bloom again
  • Kits make planting easy, but you often can’t inspect the bulb in kits
  • Bare amaryllis bulbs are cheaper, and you may be able to pick through to find the best (if you’re buying in person at a garden center or store)
  • You can usually get two blooms per year; then the plant needs to die back from its foliage to store energy to grow again
  • You can just be done with the plant after the first bloom and let it go dormant if you don’t care to manage it that much

Plant Different Varieties to Increase the Odds

Amaryllis in a variety of colors
Different varieties may be faster or slower growing, so planting different types of amaryllis gives you flexibility in blossoming, as well as different colors and color combinations.

Different varieties of amaryllises have different growing and bloom times, so you can increase your chances of having blossoms on Christmas Day (or New Year’s Day, or both) by planting more than one variety.

Pick out a few that strike your fancy.

  • Amaryllis bulbs can be put into dormancy after they die back
  • You can save them and regrow them for many years
  • You will have the widest variety of flowers by shopping for single bulbs and not kits

Fertilize Regularly to Boost Blooms

Watering an amaryllis bulb
Fertilize amaryllis with a half strength fertilizer each time you water (but water only when needed).

To speed up blossoming and give the plant what it needs to support those large flowers, fertilize your amaryllis every time you water it.

Start giving the bulb fertilizer in its water when you see new green growth poking out of the bulb (some bulbs come already sprouting, so fertilize those when you pot them—flowering takes a lot of energy out of a plant).

Even newly purchased amaryllis bulbs should be fertilized.

  • Use a water-soluble fertilizer
  • Phosphorous is what promotes blossoming in amaryllis, so choose a fertilizer with a high phosphorous content
  • On the fertilizer label, phosphorous (abbreviated as “P”) will be the middle number
  • For example, if the label has three numbers like 15-30-15, the middle number is the phosphorous content—the 30
  • Phosphorous content should be at least as high as the other two, preferably higher
  • Mix the fertilizer at half the strength recommended on the label and feed it every time you water once the plant starts growing
  • Do not overwater amaryllis, or the bulb will rot
  • Only water when the top inch of soil is dry
  • Avoid pouring water on the neck of the bulb (the exposed part above the soil)

A Few Final Tips to Keep Amaryllis Looking Lovely

Large white blooming amaryllis in a window display
Amaryllis are large plants that grow fast, so you may need to turn plants as they grow for best form. But then they’ll be sure show stoppers in your Christmas and holiday decor!
  • Amaryllis grow quickly and bend toward the light, so turn the bulb every day or two, so it grows evenly and straight up
  • Stalks are tall, and flowers are heavy—they can be anywhere from four to ten inches in diameter
  • You may need to stake the flower stalk to keep it from bending
  • Give your amaryllis a pretty topiary look by gently tying or wiring the flower stalks together at the top
  • Tying also helps the stalks support each other
  • You can tie flower stalks together on the stake, too, which hides the stake and lends support
  • Sellers are now offering unique waxed amaryllis bulbs that are ready to grow and require no watering–an interesting option!
  • Amaryllises make great gifts—give kits or start some ahead to give as grown and flowering plants
  • A beautiful, blooming amaryllis is the perfect holiday hostess gift
Paperwhite flowers in full bloom
Paperwhites are the perfect snowy flower to accompany amaryllis in Christmas decor.
  • Paperwhites are smaller but much-loved Christmas flowering bulbs, too
  • Paperwhites grow similarly and in about the same bloom time as amaryllis (a little quicker)
  • They complement amaryllis nicely, either together in one pot as a holiday bulb garden or set together in separate pots
  • If you’re not sure if you have time to get your amaryllis to bloom exactly when you want it to, or if your started bulbs are taking longer to bloom than expected, buy a fully grown plant that is in flower at the time you want it
  • You can still save the bulb from flowering full plants after it’s done to regrow for reblooming or to save for next year

15 Pics That Prove Every Second With Your Loved Ones Is a Treasure to Keep

Reuniting with loved ones, helping those we care about, or a simple photoshoot with our kids and pets can make even a few minutes feel magical. All the better if we take photos of those moments. This way we can be reminded of them and ignite a warm spark inside of us, even if we feel down.

We at <strong>Bright Side have a soft spot for family and friends and we just can’t resist sharing our latest compilation of special moments that people shared on the internet.

1. “My son teaching his little sister how to walk from his wheelchair.”

2. “My husband rooting for our daughter is the energy I need this week.”

3. “Today we celebrated one year of beating a tumor. My wife made me a cake! Yea, my son is trying to steal it.”

4. “Surprised my friend by bringing him to a zoo where he got to pet his favorite animal, a sloth. His face says it all.”

5. “A ‘photoshoot’ my husband did while I was at work. If this doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what will.”

6. “6 months meets 96 years — my Nana held her first great-granddaughter for the first time ever today!”

7. “Family moment 30 years ago with my mom and grandpa.”

8. “It took me nearly 26 years to find my father and his family. This is my newborn daughter and my uncle (my father’s brother).”

9. “I met my father for the first time in my (now) 29 years. We decided to have a ‘1st birthday’ on my 29th birthday.”

10. “I was a donor to my sister’s girlfriend and I’m now a proud uncle to my donor child.”

11. “My 96-year-old great-grandma with my kids and I. So thankful she’s in our lives!”

12. “Our flight got canceled for my birthday trip, and I missed the fancy pedicure we had booked. My husband surprised me the next day.”

13. “Met my internet best friend of 7 years for the first time!”

14. “My friend giving the neighborhood kids a huge box of chalk.”

15. “My daughter and I vs My granddaughter and I”

Which one touched your heart the most? Do you have a story with your loved one that you would like to share?

Bright Side has its own podcasts now. Take cool articles with you and listen to new stories whenever and wherever you want.

Preview photo credit poohseph / reddit

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