To help your amaryllis grow faster, soak the bulbs for a few hours before planting. Use a pot that’s the right size for the bulb, as they prefer to be pot-bound. Fill the pot with compost and water well, then leave it in a warm, dark place for a couple of weeks. Once a shoot appears, bring it into a bright location. Blooms will appear in six to eight weeks.
To enjoy amaryllis flowers up to Easter, stagger the planting by counting back eight weeks from when you want them to bloom. For Christmas blooms, plant in September. All types of amaryllis need a rich, well-drained growing medium with gravel or sand and leaf mold or manure added to multi-purpose compost.
Make sure to choose a pot that allows a few inches of mulch around the bulb. Soak the bulb and roots in lukewarm water before planting. Fill halfway with peat-free compost, gently secure the bulb, and fill with compost. Water well and let it drain. Add garden grits around the bulb to keep the moisture in the compost.
