How to Get Your Amaryllis to Rebloom Year After Year

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) is a tropical bulb beloved for its huge, trumpet-shaped blooms in red, pink, apricot, or white. Those glorious flowers last for weeks, making it a star of the winter indoor garden. But many don't realize the plant isn't dead after flowering—given the right conditions, it will rebloom for years.

Store-bought bulbs are conditioned to bloom 5–6 weeks after purchase and have never flowered before. Reblooming takes longer, so don't expect flowers by next December. Instead, anticipate a late-winter bloom—right when you're craving color most.

During Bloom

• Keep cool (around 60°F) and out of direct sun or bright light.
• Water sparingly—soil moist, not soggy.
• A large bulb often produces 2–3 flower stems.

After Flowers Fade

1. Deadhead promptly. As flowers fade, they attempt to set seed—energy better directed to the bulb. Cut each stem near the base once all its flowers are spent. Don't worry if the cut "weeps"; it just means the bulb was well-watered.
2. Move to bright light. Direct sun from a south-facing window is ideal. The plant should now produce long, bright green leaves. Do not cut them! Leaves photosynthesize to recharge the bulb.
3. Water and fertilize. Keep soil consistently moist. Fertilize monthly with organic liquid fertilizer.

The Secret: Summer Outdoors

Move the plant outdoors in late spring once frost danger passes. Gradually acclimate to a sunny spot, bringing it in during cold snaps. In hot weather, water daily if needed. Fertilize every two weeks. The plant should produce leaves all summer.

Repotting Options

• Pot up slightly. In early summer, repot into a container 1–2 inches larger for more root growth (Hans Langeveld, Longfield Gardens).
• Plant in the garden (preferred). Langeveld favors planting the bulb directly in the ground—uncrowded, 15+ inches from other plants, with 4–6 hours of sun. This yields more leaves and greater energy storage. Keep soil moist, fertilize monthly.

Induce Dormancy for Rebloom

1. By late September or first frost, dig up the bulb (if in ground) and bring inside.
2. Cut back watering and stop fertilizing. Place in a cool (50°F), dry, dark spot—basement or closet—for 8–12 weeks. Leaves will yellow and can be pulled off. The bulb looks dead but isn't.
3. After 8–12 weeks, a new flower stalk should emerge. Move to a sunny, warm spot, keep soil moist, and restart the cycle.

More: Indoor Winter Gardens for Cheerier Days