Expert: Long Island Gardener - 12/5/2006

Question
I read the recent question & answer about "planting" bulbs in dishes on rocks and using water & alcohol for watering.  My question is, can you do this with amaryllis bulbs?  I have some that I would like to give as Christmas gifts (don't have to be blooming then), but the pots that came with the "growing kit" are pretty cheap looking so I'm wanting to do something different.  I don't think it matters for this, but I'm in 23320.

Answer
I have to admit I have not used this method of growing Amaryllis.  Bulbs grown in water do not receive the nutrients they need for future performance; they are discarded after all blooms are spent, and since I cannot bear to waste a bulb, I prefer the long, hard, inconvenient, often messy potted method for Amaryllis.

Other people however take the easy route.  No fuss, no muss.

Amaryllis are larger bulbs than paperwhites, so they need more support to grow in stones and water.  Get your hands on some pretty stones.  I have seen everything from Smith & Hawkins River Stones (sold for this purpose around Christmastime, and priced by the pound, in bags) to semiprecious Turquoise and Amber to special colored glass chips.  The container itself is also critical; it must be large and heavy enough that the Amaryllis will not tilt over when the bloom finally opens.  Surround the bulb with at least 4 inches of pieces; the top 1/3rd of the bulb should be left unburied.

Next step: Just add water.  Pour in enough to reach the bottom of the bulb and top off daily to keep the bulb in contact.  You don't want your bulb to rot.

Placed inbright light, on a sunny window, with temps 60 degrees F and higher, Check the water level daily. Add water as needed to keep the level below the base of the bulb.

You'll see growth in a week or so.  Starting like a green tongue sticking out of the top of the bulb, the stem will push out, longer and longer, from the top of the bulb and eventually bloom a month or so later, depending on sun exposure.  Don't bother fertilize since you're throwing this one in the trash when you're done.