Your amaryllis has bloomed and now you want to try to keep it and make it rebloom next year. First, understand that bulbs, including amaryllis (Hippeastrum) grow their foliage to replenish their strength so they can bloom again. If you want to keep your amaryllis for next year, encourage the foliage to grow by treating it like a houseplant. You will also need to give it a little rest next fall before bringing it back into active growth. Follow these steps to rebloom your amaryllis bulb. (If you are just starting with your very first bulb and have yet to plant it, take a quick look at How to Grow an Amaryllis Bulb to get the basics.)
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It takes about five good leaves to energize the bulb enough to rebloom. The more big healthy leaves your bulb grows, the healthier and stronger the bulb will be and the better it will bloom next winter.
If your bulb is growing in peat moss, replant it into a good quality potting mix using a pot just an inch or two wider than the bulb. If the container has no drainage holes, transplant to a container with drainage holes.
Water to keep the soil slightly damp: not sopping wet or saturated, not dried out. Fertilize regularly with a water soluble complete fertilizer for houseplants such as 10-10-10 plus minors. Give it as much direct sun as possible.
Set your amaryllis outside for the summer if you wish; a location in bright dappled light or morning sun is fine. Continue watering and fertilizing. Keep it in its container so it is easy to move indoors in the fall.
In mid September or so, stop watering completely and rest the bulb for about two months. Store it in a dry, dark and cool (not cold) place with a temperature of about 50 to 55 degrees. Some gardeners turn the pot on its side during the rest period. When the leaves yellow and die back, cut them off.
After about eight to ten weeks of rest or dormancy (or if your bulb begins to grow on its own) it’s time to restart the bulb. If needed, repot it now. Use a good quality potting mix formulated for container plants and a pot with drainage holes in the bottom.
Set it in a warm (70 to 75 degrees) and sunny place and water it thoroughly once. Thereafter keep the soil just barely damp. Once it begins to grow foliage, water a bit more generously so it is moist but not wet. Turn the pot a quarter turn every day like you did last year. When it begins to bloom, move the pot to a slightly cooler but still bright location; cooler temperatures help keep the bloom stem short and sturdy and the flowers last longer, too.
Expect blooms in six to eight weeks. Timing depends partly on growing conditions and partly on the specific variety you are growing — some take longer than others. To speed up blooming, move to a slightly warmer place (75 degrees). To slow it down, keep it cool (65-70). If your plant is tall and leaning, increase the amount of light it receives.
Also check out my Amaryllis Growing Tips for some extra pointers on how to keep your amaryllis bulb healthy and happy. If you are just starting with your very first bulb, take a quick look at How to Grow an Amaryllis Bulb to get the basics.
More ideas for winter blooming flowers to grow indoors.
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