Amaryllis (Hippeastrum): when to plant the bulb, care and how to get it to flower again

Planting dates for amaryllis to flower at Christmas, a step-by-step method and an annual cycle with a rest period that lets the same bulb flower again next winter.

In brief: Plant amaryllis (correctly Hippeastrum) from October to January in a pot only slightly wider than the bulb, leaving two thirds of the bulb above the substrate. It flowers in 6–8 weeks. After flowering, grow the leaves until September, then give it 8–10 weeks of rest in the cool. The plant is poisonous.

Planting the bulb	October–January, for Christmas flowers at the end of October
From planting to flower	6–8 weeks
Pot	2–3 cm wider than the bulb, heavy and stable
Bulb above the substrate	about two thirds
Temperature	around 20 °C for sprouting, 15–18 °C in flower
Rest after the season	8–10 weeks at 10–13 °C, almost no watering

Amaryllis is the easiest way to have really large flowers indoors in December and January. The bulb needs neither a garden nor a greenhouse, just a bright window and a little patience. But anyone who wants the same bulb to flower next winter as well must follow one step that is most often forgotten: the rest.

The end of September and October are a turning point for amaryllis. Last year's bulbs are just being put away to rest, and new ones are being bought and planted. Below you will find the dates, the planting method and the whole annual cycle that leads to repeat flowering.

Amaryllis or Hippeastrum?

In shops it is sold under the name amaryllis, but botanically it is almost always a hippeastrum (Hippeastrum) from tropical America. The true amaryllis (Amaryllis belladonna) is a South African plant that flowers at the end of summer and you will hardly ever meet it on sale at Christmas. Both belong to the Amaryllidaceae family and both are poisonous.

In this article we use the common name amaryllis. We also describe Hippeastrum as a Christmas flower in the overview of Christmas flowers that will decorate your home.

When to plant the bulb so that it flowers at Christmas

From planting to flowering usually takes 6–8 weeks. In a warmer flat it goes faster, in a cooler room more slowly. You can easily work out the date from this:

Planting date	Approximate flowering	Comment
beginning to mid October	end of November, beginning of December	suitable for Advent decoration
end of October	mid to end of December	the surest date for Christmas
November	January	flowers after the holidays, longer in the cool
December to January	February to March	extends the season if you plant gradually

A tip from practice: buy three bulbs and plant them two to three weeks apart. Instead of one week of glory you will have a Hippeastrum in flower all winter. Forced bulbs also suit a winter windowsill; you can find the method in the section on forcing in the overview of bulbs and tuberous plants and for hyacinths forced in a glass.

How to choose a bulb

Size. The bigger the bulb, the more flower stems. Large bulbs usually send up two stems, small ones often only one.
Firmness. The bulb must be hard, without soft spots, mould or red blotches under the skin.
Roots. Living roots are pale and springy. Dry remnants do not matter, rotten ones do.
Tip. If a green flower stem is already peeking out of the bulb, plant it at once.

Bulbs "in wax" flower without watering, because they have the nutrients for one flowering stored in them. After flowering, however, it is difficult to save them without roots and substrate, so count on it being a one-off decoration.

Planting step by step

Immerse the roots in lukewarm water for 2–3 hours. Do not soak the bulb itself.
Choose a pot only 2–3 cm wider than the bulb. In a large container the substrate stays wet for a long time and the bulb easily rots. The container should be heavy; the flower stem is tall and a light plastic pot tips over.
Put 2 cm of drainage on the bottom and fill with a light, free-draining substrate. Mix about a fifth of perlite into ordinary houseplant substrate.
Seat the bulb so that about two thirds remain above the surface. Press the substrate around it lightly.
Water sparingly, just so that the substrate settles. Then place the pot in the light in a warmth of around 20 °C.
Until the stem is at least 10 cm tall or the first leaves have appeared, water only a little. Never pour water onto the neck of the bulb.

Care during flowering

The stem grows towards the light, so turn the pot every two to three days. For large-flowered varieties push a support, for example a bamboo cane, in next to the bulb and tie the stem to it loosely. As soon as the first flowers open, move the plant to a cooler room at 15–18 °C. This prolongs the flowering by several days.

Keep the substrate slightly moist and pour excess water out of the saucer after a quarter of an hour. Overwatering is the most common cause of rot in amaryllis. You can find more about winter care of houseplants, especially light and watering, in the article how to look after houseplants in winter.

Annual cycle: how to get amaryllis to flower again

The bulb gathers strength for the next flower all summer. The leaves are therefore not waste but a factory for nutrients. A method that works:

After flowering cut off the spent stem about 5 cm above the bulb. Leave the leaves.
Spring and summer: water regularly and feed every 1–2 weeks with a balanced houseplant fertiliser.
From the end of May the pot may stand outdoors in partial shade, protected from midday sun and heavy rain.
At the end of September stop feeding and gradually reduce watering. Move the plant to a cool place, ideally 10–13 °C.
Rest for 8–10 weeks. Almost stop watering. The leaves may turn yellow, which does not matter. Light is not necessary in this phase.
New start. Shorten the old leaves, replace the top 2–5 cm of substrate and continue as with a new bulb.

Repot once every 2–3 years after flowering, into fresh substrate and only a pot size larger. If you grew the bulb outdoors this summer, the end of September is exactly the time to stop feeding it and prepare it for rest.

Why amaryllis does not flower

Symptom	Most common cause	What to do
only leaves grow	the bulb had no rest or it was too short	keep to 8–10 weeks of cool and dryness
the bulb is shrinking	leaves removed early, no feeding	grow the leaves all summer and feed
soft bulb, smell	overwatering, large pot	take it out, cut away the rot, plant in a smaller container
the stem breaks	too little light, warmth	brighter window, support, cooler room

Toxicity: children, dogs and cats

Both Hippeastrum and true amaryllis contain alkaloids, mainly lycorine. Most of it is in the bulb, but the leaves and flowers are poisonous as well. In dogs and cats, chewing causes vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, abdominal pain, lethargy and tremors. In children the main risk is digestive trouble.

Do not store bulbs before planting in the kitchen next to edible onions, and place the pot out of reach of animals. If you suspect a child has been poisoned, call the Toxicological Information Centre on 224 919 293 or 224 915 402, and for an animal call a vet immediately. Do not induce vomiting.

Frequently asked questions

When should I plant amaryllis so that it flowers at Christmas?

At the end of October. From planting to flowering takes 6–8 weeks, in a cooler flat closer to eight. If you plant in November, it usually flowers in January.

How long does amaryllis flower?

One stem usually flowers for two to three weeks, longer in a room at 15–18 °C than in the warmth by a radiator. A large bulb sends up two stems one after another, so the total flowering time is extended.

What should I do with amaryllis after flowering?

Cut off the spent stem, let the leaves keep growing, and water and feed until the end of September. Then give the plant 8–10 weeks of rest in the cool and dry, and only after that start it again.

Why does my amaryllis not flower, it just grows leaves?

Most often the cool rest was missing or the bulb did not take up enough nutrients over the summer. Keep to the annual cycle and leave the bulb at least two months in a cool place around 10–13 °C with almost no water.

Is amaryllis poisonous to cats and dogs?

Yes. It contains lycorine and other alkaloids, most in the bulb. Chewing the leaves or the bulb causes vomiting, diarrhoea and drooling; if you suspect it, call a vet.

Can a waxed amaryllis be saved after flowering?

Only exceptionally. Remove the wax, inspect the bulb and plant it in a small pot. If it has no living roots, it usually will not regain enough strength to flower again.

Sources

Updated: 27 September 2026

Author: Jana Vránová, the editorial name of the Pěstík.cz team. She writes about the garden, herbs and essential oils. We take safety and dosage information from specialist literature and official sources, which we cite in every article.