Where To Put An Amaryllis In Your Home So It Will Bloom

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) are native to Central and South America and known for their big, showy trumpet-shaped flowers. Although they are tropical flowers, amaryllis bulbs are frequently given as Christmas presents. Amaryllis is sold as a bulb or planted in a pot. When bringing this plant into your home, where you place it will impact how well it blooms.

Because amaryllis is a tropical plant, it likes warmth, whether indoors or outside. Your plant will need to be kept indoors from the first frost in autumn until after the last spring frost. If you want to enjoy large, gorgeous flowers, there are 24 unique kinds of amaryllis you can grow for beautiful blooms in your home. Red is a common color that is sought after during the holiday season. Other popular varieties include white, pink, salmon, deep burgundy, and bicolor varieties that are often striped or with a different edge color.

When finding the ideal place for your plant, you may want to think twice before growing amaryllis if you have pets. The plant, and especially the bulb, contains a toxic compound known as lycorine. Cats and dogs won't die from chewing on the plant, but it will cause illness symptoms, such as abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you want to safely enjoy these big, beautiful blooms, be sure to keep them out of reach of your pets.

These tropical plants like warmth, so keep the bulb warm to encourage healthy, rapid growth. If you have these flowers in your container garden or patio, be sure bring them indoors when the weather gets chilly and keep them warm to optimize flowering. Amaryllis grows best in temperatures that range from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18–24 degrees Celsius).

When selecting a place to set your pot, look for a spot that gets plenty of bright, indirect sunlight. A south facing window away from drafts is ideal to make sure the plant has enough sunlight to bloom. The pot should be turned daily as the plant grows to keep the stems straight and prevent leaning toward the sun. If needed, stakes can be used to support the stems as they grow taller.

Once the plant blooms, move it away from direct sunlight and keep it at the lower end of its preferred temperature range. Doing this will prolong the life of the blossoms. If you want pretty flowers to brighten your home in winter, it is relatively easy to force amaryllis flowers to bloom in winter by timing the process. It will take between six and 12 weeks for the bulbs to bloom after planting, as long as you keep them in moist soil on a sunny windowsill and in temperatures between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.