Amaryllis is a small genus of flowering bulbs that originates in the tropical regions of South Africa. The botanical name of this genus is Hippeastrum and it has two species.
The well-known species is Amaryllis belladonna also known as a Belladonna Lily, Jersey Lily or Naked Lady. Pink and pale red varieties of Amaryllis Belladonna are available.
Amaryllis is a half-hardy bulbous plant meaning that you don’t need to chill bulbs for several weeks before planting. So, if you plant Amaryllis in October, its leaves should appear in spring.
But what to do if your Amaryllis bulb is not growing? Here’s why it’s happening and how to fix it!
As Amaryllis is a tropical bulb, it likes moist soil, warm temperatures and plenty of light. Therefore, dry soil, cold temperatures and lack of sunlight are the most common reasons why Amaryllis bulb is not growing. So keep your Amaryllis bulb at 20°C-21°C in a sunny window, fertilize twice per month and make sure the soil is moit but not wet.
I’ll break down the common reasons stopping your Amaryllis bulb from flowering in detail along with the solutions how to fix them!
Let’s get started!
Reason #1 – Soil is dry
Amaryllis originates from tropical regions in South Africa, so the bulbs thrive in moist soil. Keep soil moist but never wet and soggy. As a rule of thumb you need to water Amaryllis sparingly until it grows to about 2 inches and then you can water regularly. If you are growing in a greenhouse, you need to know when and how to water plants.
However, you might be watering adequately, so the problem can be in the soil. It might not drain well. That is why you should not be using garden soil. A good potting mix or multipurpose compost are the best soil options for Amaryllis. Check out what is the best soil for greenhouse growing here.
Moreover, it is important to choose a pot of the right size. Choose a heavy 6-8 inches pot that will not tip over under the weight of the flowers. Make sure that potting mix isn’t drying out, however, water should not be collecting in the saucer. Amaryllis along with other plants can grow in just 6 inches of soil.
Reason #2 – Temperature is too cold
The minimum temperature for Amaryllis during growing season is 45°F but the ideal temperature is 68° to 70°F (20°C to 21°C). In the ideal temperature roots will start growing quickly. Amaryllis is easy to grow indoors, however, you can move it outside in spring if the temperature is appropriate.
If you are growing Amaryllis bulb indoors, place it on a windowsill in the warmest room. Make sure that temperatures are not too cold at night time. It can be a good idea to place a pot on the shelf above the radiator. Remember to monitor not only air temperature but the soil temperature as well. Did you know that you can test soil temperature in just 4 easy steps?
Reason #3 – Not enough light
Amaryllis bulb needs to grow in bright, indirect sunlight. Also, it is important to plant the bulb with pointed end up. In comparison to other bulbs, it doesn’t need darkness. So one third of the bulb should remain above the soil line.
Place the pot on a windowsill in a well-lit spot. Once you see the new growth, expose it to direct sunlight or the plant will get tall and floppy. Turn the pot regularly (every few days), so the flower stalk doesn’t grow towards the light. Turning the pot ensures that flower stalk is exposed to sunlight at all sides and will grow straight.
Reason #4 – Bulb is still in dormancy
If you planted Amaryllis bulb a few weeks ago and it won’t grow, the bulb can still be in dormancy. Although Amaryllis doesn’t require a resting (dormant) period, if you let the bulb to rest, you can control the blooming time. Most of the time growers do that to make Amaryllis bloom around Christmas holidays.
So, Amaryllis will bloom again if you continue to grow after flowering. However, for the best flowering growers leave the plant to grow and energize for four to six months and then encourage it into dormancy. To start the dormancy you need to stop watering.
Amaryllis bulb should be dormant for at least 8 weeks. At this time they should be kept in a cool and dark place. No resting period is the most common reason why Amaryllis has only leaves and no flowers. It will grow leaves and no flowers if you re-bloom it too quickly.
Reason #5 – It’s still dormant
On average, it takes from 4 to 8 weeks for the Amaryllis bulb to begin growing. Depending on the type, you can see tiny, single leaves begin to appear after two weeks. Also, most varieties start flowering six to eight weeks after planting, but other can take longer – up to ten weeks.
So, if you plant Amaryllis in October, its leaves appear in spring. However, there are some types that grow leaves first and only after the leaves die away, the 2 ft flower stalks appear in fall. Other Amaryllis bulbs produce a flowering stalk first and then leaves. The leaves transport carbohydrates back to the bulb for the next flowering.
Many growers wonder what to do with bulbs after flowering. Depending on the bulb, it can stay in the pot or you might need to remove it, dry and store in a cool and dark place.
If you are not sure what to do with Tulip and Daffodil bulbs after flowering, you can have a look at this post.
