§ Care guide · Hippeastrum · Checked Oct 2026
How to care for an amaryllis
Pot an amaryllis bulb with its top third to half above a well-drained mix, give it a sunny spot, and water when the top two inches of soil are dry. It blooms 6 to 8 weeks after planting, and moving it out of direct sun to a 60 to 65°F spot makes the flowers last longer.
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§ 010 · Care
Amaryllis care, step by step
Light
Grow the bulb in a sunny spot; Clemson Extension calls for at least four hours of direct sun a day. Once it is in bloom, keep it out of direct sunlight to make the flowers last longer. Outdoors in summer, give it at least 6 hours of sun a day.
Water
Water thoroughly right after planting, then wait about a week and keep the soil barely moist until growth starts. After that, wait to water until the top two inches of soil are dry. Clemson Extension waters a flowering plant one to two times per week.
Temperature
Grow amaryllis at 65 to 70°F. Higher temperatures produce weak flower stalks and smaller flowers. Move a blooming plant to a cooler spot, 60 to 65°F, to make the flowers last longer.
Soil and potting
Choose a pot about one inch wider than the bulb and about twice as tall as the bulb. Use a well-drained potting mix high in organic matter, and set the bulb so the top third to half sits above the soil. Leave about an inch between the soil and the rim of the pot.
Fertilizer
Start feeding after the flowers fade, while the leaves are growing. Wisconsin Extension uses a complete fertilizer such as 5-10-10 or 10-10-10 once a month at the houseplant rate; Clemson Extension uses a liquid houseplant fertilizer twice a month. Do not fertilize a bulb that has no leaves, because it can kill the roots.
Getting it to bloom again
Keep the leaves growing all spring and summer in a bright spot, watering and feeding as usual, so the bulb stores energy. To time the next bloom, force a rest: store the bulb in a cool, dark place at 45 to 55°F for about 8 to 12 weeks and do not water it. Flowers come 4 to 6 weeks after the rest ends. A rest is not required, but it lets you control when the plant blooms.
After the holidays
Cut off each flower as it fades so the plant does not spend energy making seed. Leave the flower stalk until it turns yellow, because it still makes food for next year's flowers. Then move the plant to a bright spot indoors and keep watering and feeding it.
Common problems
Red spots or blotches on the leaves, stalk, or bulb point to red blotch, a fungal disease. Too much moisture causes bulb and root rot, and yellow streaks on the leaves point to mosaic virus. Pests include mealybugs, scale, mites, thrips, and bulb maggots. A plant kept too warm grows weak stalks and small flowers.
Pet safety
The ASPCA lists amaryllis as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses because of lycorine and related compounds. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, drooling, loss of appetite, depression, and tremors. Clemson Extension says all parts are poisonous to people and pets if eaten in large amounts.
§ 020 · Questions
Questions about amarylliss
Can I plant my amaryllis outside?
Yes, if you live where it is hardy. Clemson Extension rates amaryllis cold hardy through USDA Zone 8, and UF/IFAS says it grows outdoors year-round in Florida, planted between September and January. Plant bulbs about a foot apart with half the bulb's nose above ground, in well-drained soil. In the rest of the country, grow it in a pot.
How do I get my amaryllis to bloom again?
Keep the leaves growing in a bright spot through summer with regular water and monthly feeding. Then rest the bulb in a cool, dark place at 45 to 55°F for 8 to 12 weeks without water. It blooms 4 to 6 weeks after you bring it back into light and water.
Does an amaryllis need a dormant period?
No. Amaryllis can rebloom without one. A rest of 8 to 12 weeks at 45 to 55°F lets you control when it blooms.
How long does it take an amaryllis bulb to bloom?
A newly planted bulb blooms 6 to 8 weeks after planting. A bulb coming out of dormancy blooms 4 to 6 weeks after you start it again.
Is amaryllis poisonous to cats and dogs?
Yes. The ASPCA lists amaryllis as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. It causes vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, drooling, and tremors.