Amaryllus are not to be confused with Hippeastrum.
Amaryllis have trumpet shaped flowers, whereas Hippeastrum have overlapping petals.
Hippeastrum are more common than Amaryllus, so those plants blooming around Christmas are more likely to be Hippeastrum.
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They are best treated as indoor plants in the UK
This bulbous plant grows to a height of 600-750mm (24"-30")
The heads of up to four 100-125mm (4"-5") diameter trumpet-shaped flowers come in red, red-and-white bicolours and sometimes salmon, white or orange on bare stems in September and October.
Amaryllis grow in two phases: a flowering phase in the winter, followed by a foliage phase in the summer.
Flowering phase;
Near the end of the summer, as the leaves die, gradually allow the bulb to dry out, then move it back indoors when the weather begins to consistently reach 10°C(50°F)
Rest the bulb in a cool, dark spot without water for a month or two.
In late autumn,circa week 45 begin watering gradually and a new flower stalk will emerge.
Do this by gradually increasing the watering frequency, but do not allow the bulb to become soaked.
You can time the flower cycle based on when you resume watering.
After the bulb sprouts, a tall, hollow flower stalk will emerge.
Provide bright light, but not direct sun.
As the flower stalk grows,commence feeding with a liquid fertilizer.
In the winter, keep the plants above 16°C (60ºF).
Foliage phase;
Deadhead flowers as they die back, and leave the stems to die back naturally.
Strap-shaped mid-green leaves will develop during spring,this is when to start adding fertiliser weekly to keep them growing strongly.
When the stem dies off cut it off and move the plant/s outside.
The foot of a south-facing wall is ideal, but do not place it in full sunlight.
Water freely from this point onwards.
Don't force the plant to die down in summer, it can keep growing all year.
Give it a cold spell in autumn and early winter before bringing it back into a warm room to flower.
Aftercare;
Old stock shouldn't have to be repotted except to perhaps change the compost.
If left undisturbed in their pots, new bulbs will develop and form clumps of plants over a period of years.
Lift mature plants when the leaves begin to turn yellow in summer; divide the bulbs and replant immediately.
If the compost is to be replaced do this by gently shaking the bulb free of its old compost when it is in the dormant stage and repot into new compost.
When planting the bulb, ensure that the top third or half of the bulb is exposed to prevent rot.
New stock;
Week 45-50; New stock should be potted up at this time into well crocked pots of Ji2 potting compost ensuring the top third or half of the bulb is exposed to prevent rot.
Stagger the planting up of each bulb to extend the flowering season.
Signs of growth should be apparent roughly a week after planting up.
Propagation;
Circa Week 3; Sow seeds 25mm (1") deep in 100mm (4") pots of seed compost.
Place these in a place where a temperature of 16°C (60 °F) can be maintained.
The seedlings may take up to eight years to flower and the blooms may not flower true to the parent's colour.
