Holiday Blooms
Imagine your holiday table dressed up with gorgeous flowers blooming in deep red or snowy white; pale pink or brilliant copper; dark burgundy or even pale green. Better yet, imagine that you’ve grown these beauties yourself, indoors–and with very little effort at all.
You may have already guessed that I’m talking about amaryllis (Hippeastrum). You can find amaryllis bulbs for sale now, at garden centers and home improvement stores, or order them from mail-order suppliers. But you’d better hurry. They should be planted soon, so they’ll send up their magnificent flower shoots by Christmas.
To grow an amaryllis, simply pot the bulb at least six weeks before you want flowers. Because these plants prefer crowded conditions, use a container that is only slightly bigger than the bulb. A two-inch gap between the side of the pot and the bulb is fine.
Use a well-drained potting mix that is rich in organic matter, but leave about 1/2 of the bulb sticking up above the the soil. Soak the entire pot in a sink or a tub of water, until air bubbles stop escaping from the mix.
Now put the bulb in a bright window that gets indirect light, and water only enough to keep the soil from drying out. In one to two weeks, a flower stalk should appear. You may need to stake these top-heavy plants to keep them from tipping over, but be careful not to spear the roots.
Turn the plant daily, so the flower stalk grows nice and straight. As the flowers fade, snip them off. You may be rewarded with another set of blooms!
Although amaryllis are stunning all by themselves, you can dress them up even more by placing small, shiny ornaments, like red or silver balls, on top of the soil. A beautifully tied bow around a simple pot is also pretty. For a natural look, dress the top of the pot with some sphagnum moss or tiny pine cones, and use a branch as a stake, tying it loosely with raffia.
The biggest problem with these plants is deciding which color to grow. I’m crazy about ‘Green Goddess’, which has a glowing green center that fades to white. For a Christmas-y red, try Double Dragon, a double-flowered delight. I’m eager to grow a rare amaryllis that comes from the rainforests of Brazil, ’Papilio’. Its orchid-shaped blooms are said to have a sweet scent.
Where can you find these beauties? If a local nursery doesn’t carry them, check out these links: