Just In Time For Christmas

Christmas is a time to go all out with decorating our homes, and the finishing touch is definitely amaryllis in full flower.

The season for amaryllis bulbs begins in November and peaks just in time for Christmas, with large blooms that finish off the décor beautifully. They also make perfect gifts. Bulbs will be available in stores and online from around August, but to get them to flower exactly on time takes a little bit of know how. Here are some tips. Once the bulbs are planted they will take 5 – 6 weeks to bloom, so around 10 November is the time for planting. If you buy your bulbs earlier, just pack them in a paper bag and put them in the fridge to fool them into believing it’s still winter. The temperature should be around 5°C, and should never drop below freezing.

Indoor planting

There are three ways to plant your bulbs in pots for indoor blooms:

1. Water planting

One of the easiest ways is to place an 8cm layer of pretty stones in the bottom of a glass container. Add the bulb and fill in with more stones to keep it stable. Add water to just below the bottom of the bulb and keep the level consistent. The water should never touch the base of the bulb.

2. Potting soil