Amaryllis After Care

 

I have three amaryllis bulbs that I started in potting soil last October. Two of the bulbs have bloomed beautifully, but the third -- well, I don't know what it's trying to do.  I think it's a dud.

 

But as for the two bulbs that performed as expected, I'm now wondering how I'm supposed to care for them. 

 

Fortunately, I had saved one of the boxes in which one of the bulbs was packaged (despite what A&E says, hoarding does have some benefits,) and it contained information regarding after care.  I would assume these instructions would hold true for any indoor-forced bulbs:

 

• After flowering, cut off the flower stalks and treat as a houseplant.
• Continue to water and fertilize regularly.
• Grow inside (in cold climates) or in a shaded area outside, after frost is no longer a danger.
• Near the end of summer, withhold water to cause the plant to go dormant.
• Remove any foliage, take the bulb out of the pot and store in a cool, dark location for four to six weeks. 
• (I put my bulbs in a brown paper grocery sack, filled with wood shavings.)
• Repot the amaryllis bulb in October and you should begin to see growth and blooms in a few weeks' time.

Amaryllis bulbs can be quite expensive, so I'm hoping that by following the above, I will have at least two blooming amaryllis by next Christmas.