PLANTING AMARYLLIS HIPPEASTRUM BULBS
 
Planting, or forcing, amaryllis hippeastrum bulbs to bloom is very easy.  Plant bulbs five to eight weeks prior to the time that you want the flowers to bloom.  Plant the amaryllis bulbs in pots that are about two inches larger in diameter than the spread of the bulbs.  Plant the bulbs in the dirt so that one third to one half of it is above the top of the soil.  Since the flower blooms are large, leave a couple inches between each of the bulbs and the sides of the pot.

AMARYLLIS CARE 
 
Snip off the flower stem after the flowers finish blooming and begin to wilt.  Let the leaves remain intact. When the risk of frost is over, amaryllis bulbs can be moved outside to a shady location.  Another option is to plant the pot and all in garden, again in a shady location.  

At the beginning of August, bring the pots of amaryllis bulbs inside.  Gradually reduce watering the bulbs over the next few weeks, and then stop.  The leaves will slowly turn yellow.  Cut them off after this process.  Then place the pot in a dry, dark, cool place for a minimum of six to eight weeks.  The ideal temperature is between 50 and 60°.  

Sometime in November, retrieve the amaryllis plants.  Place them in a bright and warmer area and begin watering to start the growth process once again for the holidays.

PLANTING AMARYLLIS OUTDOORS

Amaryllis bulbs are most often commercially sold as indoors holiday flowers.  After the bulbs bloom and the danger of frost has passed, some holiday amaryllis bulbs can easily be transplanted outdoors the following spring.  However, the natural bloom time will most likely be sometime during the summer. 

Pictured at the top right is a red holiday amaryllis that was transplanted outdoors in zone 7.  It was planted twice a deep as the bulb was tall.