Amazing amaryllis. It’s hard to imagine that a bulb, however big, can store so much energy. In no time, what looks like a large brown Spanish onion will produce one, two or even three long stems topped with large flowers, each more spectacular than the last, for weeks on end. One of the great qualities of amaryllis is that it always keeps its promises.
Bulbs ready to bloom
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Amaryllis bulbs covered in wax on a stall at the Brossard Garden Center. They will produce flowers without the addition of water or soil.
Usually sold for flowering during the holiday season, the amaryllis bulb undergoes various heat treatments in a controlled atmosphere as soon as it is picked, lasting 10 to 12 weeks before being marketed. So that as soon as it appears on our shelves from October or November, it is ready to flower without special care; very often, the flower stalk emerges from the packaging.
In addition, bulbs completely covered with wax are now sold, which do not need water or potting soil to flourish. This wax coating also allows you to decorate the bulb in many ways and a host of colors. The masters of marketing even gave it a special base to prevent it from tipping under the weight of the flowers. The only catch is that at the end of flowering, it will be literally depleted and seldom salvageable to make it bloom again.
A false name
PHOTO ANDREAS HEDELMANN, FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
The rare scent amaryllis emit an often barely perceptible odor. This is the case with the Minerva variety.
Native to southern Mexico to Peru, amaryllis owes its name to a South African plant with similar flowers. Even though this assumed name is scientifically wrong, it was readily accepted by the global horticultural community and marketed as such. Produced in several countries, amaryllis number around 70 species and hundreds of varieties in white, pink, orange, purple and intermediate tones.
Size can vary widely from cultivar to cultivar, with some flower stalks reaching 45 to 50 cm. Their dimensions are normally mentioned on the packaging, which also specifies the name of the variety and its color. Numbering two to six per stem, the flowers always impress with their large size, but rare are those that emit a fragrance, except a subtle aroma noticeable only at the tip of the nose. This is particularly the case with the Apple Blossom, Pink Floyd, Minerva or Amputo varieties.
Lukewarm water bath
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Amaryllis (above the “Red Lion” variety) are usually sold at various stages of growth.
Amaryllis bulbs are sold individually, naked, without potting soil, but many are also available in pots or ready-to-plant kits. In both cases, the bulb should be buried only two-thirds of the way. Lightly moisten the potting soil and start watering lightly, always at the base, as soon as a first stem begins to emerge, which can take two to four weeks after its adoption. Obviously, the show will be faster if the flower stems are already present. If your bulb takes a long time to participate in your happiness, which is rather rare, give it a good bath of lukewarm water for an hour, which should induce flowering.
Also remember that the larger the bulb, the more stems it will produce, the more expensive it will be. The stems should grow one after the other, sometimes almost simultaneously, a time lag that allows flowering to be spread over three weeks to a month, sometimes a little longer.
Warning: due to the size and weight of the flowers, it is better to fix the stem with a stake or to place the bulb in a relatively heavy pot to prevent the plant from falling. In the event of an incident, the stem can be put in a vase like a cut flower.
A second flowering? Be patient !
PHOTO PIERRE MCCANN, ARCHIVES THE PRESS
An amaryllis bulb can flower for several years in a row if cared for properly. But unlike the first flowering which will have been the result of a heat treatment, the next flowers will usually appear from spring. Above, a “Red Lion” amaryllis after a few years of maintenance.
As with poinsettias, most consumers will get rid of their plant after some time. But you can also make your amaryllis bloom again. It will then be necessary to be patient.
Once flowering is complete, cut the stems while retaining the foliage. Then treat your amaryllis like a green plant by fertilizing it every now and then in the spring to help it regain its strength. When the weather is nice, you can plant it in the garden or place it in its pot in a place not exposed to direct sunlight.
At the end of the season, the foliage should slowly wilt. The amaryllis will go into rest for a few months. If all goes well, a first stem will eventually manifest itself. When ? Hard to say. This is simply because the plant blooms naturally in the spring and some varieties produce their flowers much earlier than others. Your patience should therefore be rewarded much later than when you bought it. Your pleasure will be even greater. It can multiply over the years.