Terms of UseHow to Store Amaryllis Bulbs Explore this Article methods 1 Winterizing Your Bulbs 2 Getting Your Bulbs Ready to Bloom Again Other Sections Things You'll Need Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Hannah Madden
Last Updated: February 3, 2023
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This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Hannah Madden is a writer, editor, and artist currently living in Portland, Oregon. In 2018, she graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Hannah enjoys writing articles about conservation, sustainability, and eco-friendly products. When she isn’t writing, you can find Hannah working on hand embroidery projects and listening to music. This article has been viewed 16,011 times.
Amaryllis are known for their large, beautiful red or orange flowers that can bloom even through the winter time. They look great out in your yard or even in a pot on your windowsill. By using gardening tools you may already have at home, you can make your bulbs bloom and enjoy your amaryllis flowers for years to come.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Winterizing Your Bulbs
1 Cut back the flower stalks in the late spring. As you notice your flower stalks getting old, discolored, or soft in late May or early June, use sharp scissors to cut off the flower stalks. Leave 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) of stem right above the bulb so that they can regrow in the next blooming season. Don’t cut the leaves of your amaryllis, just the stalk with the flower on it.[1]XResearch source
2 Dig up your bulbs carefully if they are planted outside. Use a gardening spade to gently dig a hole around your bulbs and pull them up if they are in the ground. Leave the roots intact and try not to rip or tear them as you uproot them.
If your bulbs are in a pot already, leave them in the pot.
If any of your bulbs have white or black mold spots on them, they are probably rotting and you can dispose of them.
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3 Place each bulb in its own pot with soil, leaving the top 1/3 exposed. Replant your bulbs in a 1 US gal (3.8 L) pot with the roots facing down and cover it with potting soil. Leave the top 1/3 of the bulb exposed so that it doesn’t get too wet and start to rot.[2]X Trustworthy Source EDISElectronic database of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences's peer-reviewed articles Go to source
If you’d like to, you can mix your potting soil with 2 tbsp (14 g) of fertilizer to keep your bulb healthy as it winterizes.
Choose clay pots with holes at the bottom for drainage.
If you don’t have any pots, wrap your bulbs in newspaper or paper bags instead of replanting them.
Variation: If your bulbs are new and you haven’t planted them yet, keep them in a paper bag in a cool, dry place, like your basement or your kitchen pantry. Make sure the temperature stays above 40 °F (4 °C).[3]X Trustworthy Source EDISElectronic database of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences's peer-reviewed articles Go to source
4 Put your bulbs in a cool, dark place for 5 to 6 weeks. Take all of your pots and move them to a cool, dry location in the dark, like a basement. Make sure the area you put them in won’t get below 40 °F (4 °C) so that your bulbs don’t freeze.
You don’t need to water your bulbs or replace the soil as you keep them in storage. They will survive just fine on their own.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Getting Your Bulbs Ready to Bloom Again
1 Put your bulbs in an area with 8 hours of sunlight in the fall. Most amaryllis bulbs are ready to flower in early October. Bring them up from their cool, dry place and put them in a sunny location, like an east-facing window.[4]X Trustworthy Source EDISElectronic database of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences's peer-reviewed articles Go to source
If you live in an area that rains a lot, don’t put them outside. Your bulbs could get too wet and rot.
2 Cut off any yellow or soft leaves. Take a look at your bulb and see if there are any leaves that look discolored or soft. Use sharp scissors to cut them off about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) above the bulb.
You might have to cut off all of the leaves, and that’s okay! They will regrow as your flower blooms.
3 Replace the top 2 inches (5.1 cm) of dirt with fresh soil. Use a gardening spade to take away the top layer of soil. Replace it with fresh potting soil mixed with 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) (14 g) of fertilizer so your plant has fresh nutrients to absorb as it starts to bloom.[5]XResearch source
You can buy potting soil at most garden supply stores.
4 Replant your bulbs in the ground if you’d like to keep them outside. If your bulbs were originally part of your landscaping, dig a small hole in the ground with your gardening spade. Cover the bulb with dirt, leaving about 1/3 of it exposed, and pat it down gently to keep it in place.[6]XResearch source
Tip: If you plan on keeping them outside, plant them in the spring after the threat of frost has passed.
5 Water your bulbs once a week to watch them bloom. Keep the soil in your pot damp so that your bulb can bloom again. Try not to overwater your plant, or it could start to rot.[7]XResearch source
Amaryllis bulbs will keep blooming for decades if you winterize them every year.
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Things You’ll Need
Gardening spade
Pots
Potting soil
Fertilizer (optional)
Tips
Consider keeping your bulbs inside as they flower so you can control their climate and temperature. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
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Co-authored by: Hannah Madden wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Hannah Madden is a writer, editor, and artist currently living in Portland, Oregon. In 2018, she graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Hannah enjoys writing articles about conservation, sustainability, and eco-friendly products. When she isn’t writing, you can find Hannah working on hand embroidery projects and listening to music. This article has been viewed 16,011 times. 22 votes - 92% Co-authors: 7Updated: February 3, 2023 Views: 16,011
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Co-authored by: Hannah Madden wikiHow Staff Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Hannah Madden is a writer, editor, and artist currently living in Portland, Oregon. In 2018, she graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Hannah enjoys writing articles about conservation, sustainability, and eco-friendly products. When she isn’t writing, you can find Hannah working on hand embroidery projects and listening to music. This article has been viewed 16,011 times. 22 votes - 92% Co-authors: 7 Updated: February 3, 2023 Views: 16,011 
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. 
496 
1 Cut back the flower stalks in the late spring. As you notice your flower stalks getting old, discolored, or soft in late May or early June, use sharp scissors to cut off the flower stalks. Leave 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) of stem right above the bulb so that they can regrow in the next blooming season. Don’t cut the leaves of your amaryllis, just the stalk with the flower on it.[1] 
2 Dig up your bulbs carefully if they are planted outside. Use a gardening spade to gently dig a hole around your bulbs and pull them up if they are in the ground. Leave the roots intact and try not to rip or tear them as you uproot them. 
3 Place each bulb in its own pot with soil, leaving the top 1/3 exposed. Replant your bulbs in a 1 US gal (3.8 L) pot with the roots facing down and cover it with potting soil. Leave the top 1/3 of the bulb exposed so that it doesn’t get too wet and start to rot.[2] 
4 Put your bulbs in a cool, dark place for 5 to 6 weeks. Take all of your pots and move them to a cool, dry location in the dark, like a basement. Make sure the area you put them in won’t get below 40 °F (4 °C) so that your bulbs don’t freeze. 
1 Put your bulbs in an area with 8 hours of sunlight in the fall. Most amaryllis bulbs are ready to flower in early October. Bring them up from their cool, dry place and put them in a sunny location, like an east-facing window.[4] 
2 Cut off any yellow or soft leaves. Take a look at your bulb and see if there are any leaves that look discolored or soft. Use sharp scissors to cut them off about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) above the bulb. 
3 Replace the top 2 inches (5.1 cm) of dirt with fresh soil. Use a gardening spade to take away the top layer of soil. Replace it with fresh potting soil mixed with 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) (14 g) of fertilizer so your plant has fresh nutrients to absorb as it starts to bloom.[5] 
4 Replant your bulbs in the ground if you’d like to keep them outside. If your bulbs were originally part of your landscaping, dig a small hole in the ground with your gardening spade. Cover the bulb with dirt, leaving about 1/3 of it exposed, and pat it down gently to keep it in place.[6] 
5 Water your bulbs once a week to watch them bloom. Keep the soil in your pot damp so that your bulb can bloom again. Try not to overwater your plant, or it could start to rot.[7] 
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