Care & Culture: AMARYLLIS

• Make sure you find a sunny, warm, indoor home for your plant.

• Water your amaryllis on a regular weekly basis. The soil should remain moist.

• Turn the pot occasionally, to ensure that the stem stays straight, rather than falling over as it grows.

Caring for Your Amaryllis After It Blooms Once your plant blooms, there are a few steps you need to keep in mind in order to care for it and keep it blooming years after years.

• After the flower buds have opened, withered, and bloomed, it’s time to trim the stem. Use a sharp knife to cut the stalk so it’s about 2 inches above the bulb. Make sure you keep the leaves attached. They will continue to grow and are needed to nourish your plant.

• As the weather starts to warm up, move your amaryllis, still in the pot, to an outdoor location where it will be exposed to filtered sunlight.

• Water your flower regularly until September, when you will prune the leaves and bring the pot inside. In a cool dark place, like a closet or basement, your flower will go into a dormant period.

• Once December arrives, start watering your amaryllis so the soil is always moist. Move it to a sunny window and restart the process!