I do not think it matters. But I would cut off the old blooms because they are unsightly, and certainly to prevent any seed formation, as well as most of the bloom stalk -- cut it just above the bulb, but be sure to leave any green leaves! The leaves are what promotes bulb growth and the next flowering. Mine blooms in Spring, then leaves grow all summer and build up the bulbs for the next blooming. Right now, I've let mine dry out. I will store it cool and dry in the garage until I'm ready to start it up again...usually mid-spring.

For those that are blooming forced ones in December, I would keep them activetly growing in a sunny window as long as they have green leaves. Then set outside in Spring.

{{gwi:585237}}

I cut the blooms as soon as they are spent. I don't want the energy to go into making seeds. I don't cut the foliage off any bulbs as that does supply energy to the bulb. The bulbs get larger as they age.

I'm sorry to hear that your Mom has Alzheimer's. What a terrible disease. I hope the progression is slow.

Dave and Karyn thank you! I knew I would get the right answer here. Dave that is a gorgeous Amaryllis! I hope it is ok to ask another question. I wanted to do it when Brenda send me 2 baby amaryllis bulbs and I wondered HOW and when they get that. See, I never had a Amaryllis longer then one Season. That is how bad I was as a gardener way back when. When is it ok to take the babies off? When do they have babies`? I do not even want to ask HOW they get them rofl.
Dave when do you know that they are dry to be stored? In what do you store them? Peat moss or????

ha ha ha would you like to laugh with me? I tried to pollinate them hahahaha Now I read that you should waste the energy on that. Well I can not thank you enough for all the answers I got in such a short time...HUGS!!

So mom is not bad with her long term memory yet...that really makes my day. While I was there it was easier to detect on how she is doing. But over the phone not really. It is going slow. Thank God.

Lucy

Sorry about your mom. I am glad you posted this question. I was wondering to. I have 2 blooming and others flowing. If they were forced bloom bulbs When will I see them bloom again? How deep outside do you plant yours? Thanks Brandy

Lucy, in my zone (7a) I think we're too cold to grow them in the ground year-round. In yours you might be OK, except protect from slugs and from voles and gophers. Some actually just plant the pots. I had a friend in Houston who grew them outdoors, but that's zone 8b to 9.

'Babies' are small bulblets that form off the mother bulb. They can be removed and repotted if you like. They will likely take 4-5 years to bloom though (?). Amaryllis are related closely to crinums, if you are familiar with them.

My plant is in a pot, so when cold temps come, I just let it dry out and I move it into the garage for a brief (couple month) dormancy. I withhold water. The leaves gradually die and turn brown. I remove the dead leaves to keep the plant neat. The bulbs are left right in the pot and the same soil. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to maybe prune the roots and add fresh soil after several years. But they seem to like to be potbound.

Lucy, I am zone 7b and I grow all of mine outside. The usual ones, Red lion, Apple blossom, white christmas, clown, etc. and they all do well here.

Brandy, I planted some that were forced to bloom, and to be honest, I don't think they have bloomed since.Maybe you will have better luck.

That half a zone makes a big difference. The bulbs freeze and rot if left in ground over the winter here : ( I've kept them growing then planted them outside in the spring. The foliage grows like crazy but they don't bloom. If I take them in at the end of summer and allow them to dry and the foliage to die back then start watering in Nov they' usually bloom. I've also replanted a dormant bulb in the spring for summer blooms outside.

Edna, I'm jealous of your 7B climate. I think that's about the best there is. I'm trying to remember now, are you in the Chesapeake or Suffolk area?

Again thank you so much Dave, GREAT info and all my questions are answered now.With the freezing temps we have and the bulbs do have to be exposed like a 1/3 above ground, I would be scared they freeze. I like taking them in in the winter time.

Oh I DO have another question. I guess the bulbs you buy right now and they bloom by christmas...are FORCED??
Where and what do I have to look out for if I want to buy bulbs that are not forced?

Thank you everyone for all your great ways you get your amaryllis to bloom and take care of them!

Lucy

The amaryllis you see now are forced. There's a number of growers that sell amaryllis bulbs. I haven't bought from any but you could check their feedback on Garden Watchdog. Here's a list of nurseries that sell Hippeastrum (amaryllis).

Here is a link that might be useful: amaryllis

Thanks Karyn I will check it out. But now I know why my Amaryllis in earlier days never bloomed again.

Lucy

That website is www.bloomingbulb.com that I was telling you about. The one I got from them is making a flower stalk already and is huge. Much healthier looking than the ones I got at Lowes. I have some planted outside that are beginning to die back now from the cold but they told me on the amaryllis forum that they will go dormant now and bloom in the spring. Its the same ones I got again this year so I will leave those planted and see how they do. They said they can be forced to bloom two or three times a year if you grow them in pots but I'm afraid I would forget about them if I put them away to dry out, lol.