Storing Amaryllis Bulbs for Years of Repeat Blooms

Amaryllis is a beautiful flower with elegant trumpet-shaped blooms often purchased during the winter holidays. However, when it is time to store the bulbs for future blooming seasons, people often need clarification. But don’t worry; we have everything you need to know for storing amaryllis bulbs for years of continuous blooms.

Our comprehensive guide will help you prepare, store, and revive your amaryllis bulbs effortlessly, ensuring they continue to bloom year after year. We will cover everything from trimming the flower stalks to finding the perfect storage conditions and containers. Let’s start by preparing your amaryllis bulbs for storage.

Key Takeaways

• Prepare amaryllis bulbs for storage by trimming flower stalks and allowing leaves to die.
• Clean and remove excess soil from the bulb to prepare it for storage.
• Store in a cool, dark location with a consistent temperature of 50-55°F and humidity levels of 50-60%.
• After storage, provide proper care such as regular watering, fertilizing, and adequate sunlight to ensure healthy growth with beautiful blooms.

Preparing Your Amaryllis Bulbs for Storage

To ensure the health of your amaryllis bulbs and the quality of their future blooms, it is essential to prepare them adequately for their dormant period. This involves three crucial steps: trimming flower stalks, allowing leaves to die back, and cleaning the bulbs. In the following sections, we’ll take a closer look at each of these steps so you can be sure your amaryllis bulbs are well-prepared for storage and ready to produce spectacular blooms.

• Learn More: See our guide for Amaryllis Care: Growing and Caring for Amaryllis Plants to understand how to keep your amaryllis healthy throughout the growing season so you can store healthy bulbs to replant next season!

Trimming Flower Stalks

The initial process in readying your amaryllis bulbs for storage involves trimming the flower stalks.

Use a clean knife or sharp gardening shears to cut the stalks to 1-1.5 inches above the bulb. This step enhances the plant’s aesthetics and promotes overall health and well-being.

Proper trimming allows the bulb to focus its energy on storing nutrients for future growth, giving you a better chance of enjoying a bountiful display of blooms when you plant amaryllis again.

Allowing Leaves to Die Back

Following trimming, allow the leaves to naturally wither before storing the amaryllis bulbs. This natural dieback process typically takes 4 to 6 weeks, allowing the plant to accumulate and conserve energy in the bulb. This stored energy is crucial for future growth and flowering, including the development of the flower stalk.

Once the leaves have yellowed, it’s time to trim them. Cut close to the base to remove the leaf altogether. Your amaryllis bulb is now ready for the final preparation step: cleaning.

Cleaning the Bulb

Before storage, make sure to clean your Amaryllis bulb thoroughly. Start by gently removing any excess soil from the bulb. Next, carefully inspect the roots for any signs of rot, discoloration, or sentimentality. Healthy roots should be firm and white.

If you find any dead or damaged roots, use clean scissors or pruners to trim them off without damaging the healthy roots. Once the bulb is clean and free from damaged roots, it will be stored for its dormant period.

Amaryllis Bulb Storage Conditions

Having prepared your amaryllis bulbs for storage, it’s essential to identify the optimal storage conditions to maintain their health and vitality. The optimal storage environment for amaryllis bulbs consists of a temperature of 50-55°F, adequate humidity levels, and darkness. These storage conditions will encourage dormancy and prevent premature growth, essential for the plant’s future success.

Let’s examine these storage conditions and understand how to establish the perfect environment for your amaryllis bulbs to rest and rejuvenate before their upcoming blooming season.

Temperature Requirements

The ideal temperature for storing amaryllis bulbs is between 50-55°F. Maintaining a consistent temperature is crucial to storing amaryllis bulbs’ dormancy and overall well-being.

A cool, dark location such as a basement or garage is perfect for maintaining the proper temperature range. Avoid placing your bulbs in areas with fluctuating temperatures, as this can negatively impact the bulb’s dormancy and future growth.

Humidity Levels

Proper humidity levels play a vital role in preserving amaryllis bulbs during storage. Aim for a humidity range of 50% to 60%.

To maintain the appropriate humidity level, store the bulbs in a paper bag with peat moss or wood chips, which will help retain moisture and prevent the bulbs from drying out or rotting.

By carefully monitoring and maintaining humidity levels, you can ensure that your amaryllis bulbs remain healthy and ready for future growth and blooming.

Darkness Requirements

Darkness is essential for amaryllis bulbs during storage, as it serves as a cue for the plant to enter a period of dormancy. To store amaryllis bulbs properly, ensure they remain dormant and healthy by placing them in a cool, dark location such as a basement, closet, or garage. During dormancy, growth ceases, and water and nutrient consumption is minimal.

Avoid exposing the dormant bulb to light, as this can interfere with their dormancy and hinder their ability to store necessary nutrients for future blooms.

Storing Amaryllis Bulbs in Different Containers

Once you’ve identified the perfect storage conditions for your amaryllis bulbs, the next step is to select an appropriate container for storage. Several container options exist, such as paper bags, plastic containers, or pots with fresh potting soil. Each method has advantages and can help maintain proper storage conditions for your amaryllis bulbs.

Let’s evaluate different container options and understand how they can aid your amaryllis bulbs’ successful storage and future growth.

Paper Bag Method

Creating the right environment for their growth is essential when storing bulbs for the dormancy period. To do this, you should use a paper bag rather than a plastic one, as it will allow the bulbs to breathe and prevent them from becoming too moist. 

Add peat moss or wood chips to the paper bag to ensure the right conditions before placing the bulbs inside. The peat moss or wood chips will help maintain a cool and humid environment, which is crucial to the bulbs’ survival during their period of dormancy. 

By following these steps, you can help ensure that your bulbs will be ready to grow and thrive when it’s time to plant them.

This method is easy to implement and takes up minimal space, making it an excellent option for those with limited storage areas.

Plastic Container Method

Another option for storing amaryllis bulbs is to use a plastic container with ventilation holes and a layer of peat moss or wood chips. This method provides a more controlled environment for the bulbs, especially when keeping plants indoors, as the container can be sealed to maintain optimal humidity levels.

Ensure the container has drainage holes to avoid waterlogging, and fill it with a well-draining soil mix to ensure proper soil moist retention.

Pot with Fresh Potting Soil

For those who prefer to plant indoors and keep their amaryllis bulbs in a more traditional planting environment, placing them in a pot with fresh soil is an excellent option. Ensure the pot has drainage holes to prevent waterlogging, and choose a potting soil that provides adequate moisture retention.

This method allows for a seamless transition from storage to planting, as the bulbs can be placed in their desired location once the time comes to plant them again.

Reviving and Repotting Stored Amaryllis Bulbs

Following a period of dormancy, you can now recommence and repot your stored amaryllis bulbs, preparing them for another season of splendid blooms.

Check out our full guide to getting your amaryllis to rebloom for more information.

Summary

Proper storage is crucial for amaryllis bulbs’ health and future blooming potential. This guide outlines the steps for preparing, storing, reviving, and repotting bulbs for an impressive display of colorful blooms. Remember that you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking collection of blossoms with patience, attention to detail, and a passion for nurturing amaryllis.

If you want unique Amaryllis bulbs, look no further than brecks.com. They have a wonderful assortment, and we’ve had great experiences with the bulbs we have ordered from their sister site here in Canada.

Amaryllis Flowers Are Wonderful Holiday Decor You Can Grow Year After Year.

Amaryllis, paperwhites, pine wreaths, and poinsettias are natural and inexpensive holiday decorations (buy once) if you grow and care for your own. We have lots of posts to help you make your home look stunning year after year with decorations you can grow or make cheaply every year:

• How Long Do Poinsettias Last: Poinsettia Care Tips
• Paperwhites for Christmas Forcing – Grow Your Holiday Decor
• Can you replant a Christmas Tree? The Answer May Surprise You!
• A DIY pine Wreath that Won’t Cost you a Cent.
• Easy Dried Orange Garland For Your Holiday Tree!

Frequently Asked Questions

Should amaryllis be refrigerated?

Amaryllis should not be refrigerated; they prefer a cool, dark place with temperatures around 40-50°F. A refrigerator is too cold for the bulb’s dormancy period.

What is the recommended method for preparing my amaryllis before storage?

For optimal bulb health and future blooming potential, it is recommended to trim the flower stalks, allow the leaves to die back, and clean the bulb before storing your amaryllis.

Which container is best for storing amaryllis?

For storing amaryllis bulbs, a pot with fresh potting soil is the best choice as it offers optimal conditions for preservation.