From the Ground Up: Get amaryllis ready for its holiday show

The amaryllis flower is a popular one for Christmas gift giving but it you want it to bloom for the holiday you need to be planting it right now. The bulbs take six to eight weeks to flower after planting.

When buying bulbs, select large, solid bulbs. The bigger the bulb the more likely you are to have two flower stalks. However, there are different varieties such as single-flowering, double-flowering and miniature ones. Flower colors range in red, pink, orange, salmon, white and bicolors.

You'll want to plant your bulb in a pot that is 1 to 2 inches wider than the diameter of the bulb. Make sure the pot has good drainage so the bulb won't rot. Use good quality potting soil, placing some in the bottom of the pot, centering the bulb, then adding additional soil making sure the bulb is firmly planted. Leave the upper one-third to one-half of the bulb above the soil surface and make sure the bulb doesn't touch the rim of the pot. Water well and place in a warm (70 to 75 degrees) location.

After the first watering, let the soil dry a bit before watering again. You want it to be moist but not wet. When it begins to grow, place it in a sunny location and add a diluted (about half strength) water soluble fertilizer solution every two to four weeks.

When the flower stalk really gets going make sure you turn the pot each day so the stalk doesn't bend toward the light. Sometimes stalks need to be staked if they won't lean straight. Once the flower starts blooming, move the plant out of direct sun to prolong the life of the blooms.

Once your Amaryllis blooms you can decide if you will treat it like an annual and compost or save it and try to force bloom for next winter. To save, cut the flower stalk after blooming leaving the foliage. Keep in a sunny window and water only when the soil surface is dry, still use a dilute fertilizer every two to four weeks.

Put the plant outside when the temps warm, acclimated it to outdoors. Place the whole pot in the ground and water during dry spells, fertilizing once or twice a month. In mid-September, bring it inside and keep in a sunny window.

Late September induce dormancy by placing the amaryllis is a cool, semi-dark location, withholding water. Cut off the foliage when the leaves turn brown. Then place the dormant bulb in a 50 to 55 F location for at least eight to 10 weeks. After the cool period, start the growth cycle again by watering the bulb and placing it in a well-lit, warm location. Keep the potting soil moist, but not wet, until growth appears.

l For gardening questions, call the Linn County Extension Master Gardener Hortline at (319) 447-0647.