I bought an Amarylis, and its been fascinating to watch it grow
But now its finished, will it flower again next year
or do I just compost it and buy a new one.

No keep it - Amarylis will flower every other year if you look after them. However don't treat them as spring bulbs as they are tropical and need warmth throughout the year.

First of all cut the old flower stalk off about 1/3 way up and let it shrivel back into the plant. Then just water it occasionally (don't let it dry out) then when the heat of the summer comes just place it outside to bask in the sun.

Once summer is over (around September) cut all the leaves off then place the Amarylis in the greenhouse (or bring indoors) but don't water it - let it dry out. Then in November pot it up into new compost give it a good soak then water enough not to let it dry out (and bring indoors!). On years it's resting it'll just throw up leaves and every other year you will get flower(s).

If you are really lucky you will get daughter bulbs off and you can plant these up (they can take a couple of years to get big enough to flower).

If you want to get flowers every year get one this year and you can have alternates!

Im trying this for the first time too.

It's well worth it - I now have 4 growing on a windowsill two for alternate years (I have my first sending up a flower at the moment :)) and another for next year (fingers crossed) plus I have 2 daughter bulbs fattening up!

That's really useful. I'm trying this for the first time but didn't realise they had a dormant year. I probably would have composted it if I hadn't been warned.

No keep it - Amarylis will flower every other year if you look after them. However don't treat them as spring bulbs as they are tropical and need warmth throughout the year.

First of all cut the old flower stalk off about 1/3 way up and let it shrivel back into the plant. Then just water it occasionally (don't let it dry out) then when the heat of the summer comes just place it outside to bask in the sun.

Once summer is over (around September) cut all the leaves off then place the Amarylis in the greenhouse (or bring indoors) but don't water it - let it dry out. Then in November pot it up into new compost give it a good soak then water enough not to let it dry out (and bring indoors!). On years it's resting it'll just throw up leaves and every other year you will get flower(s).

If you are really lucky you will get daughter bulbs off and you can plant these up (they can take a couple of years to get big enough to flower).

If you want to get flowers every year get one this year and you can have alternates!

Thankyou very much I'm going to print this off so I dont forget
it was such a beutiful flower, shame to throw it away

That's really useful. I'm trying this for the first time but didn't realise they had a dormant year. I probably would have composted it if I hadn't been warned.

Must admit I didn't until recently - there was a Gardener's World item on the Dutch growing them for export to us. Previously, I just kept hold of them just to try and encourage them to grow since my dad was treating them like spring bulbs and they always died.

Well I can happlily say that my Amarylis has flowered, I have a beautiful double headed flower which is pink with red strips :) very pleased! Just now want to get one of the daughter bulbs to flower - here's hoping!

I wish mine would hurry up. It seems to get taller every day. It was after Christmas that I started it though.

Aww I'm sure it will be worth it though when it arrives!

Well, I must say I'm most pleased with the double flower I got, it's now sadly gone so I've taken the top off the flowers and I'm now allowing it to shrivel back down. Then I'll give it a good feed and let it bask in the summer sun to rest for a year and hopefully next year my other one will flower :)

Its over and done with now. Im putting it outside and will feed it at my next gardening session.

Its over and done with now. Im putting it outside and will feed it at my next gardening session.

I'd actually keep it on a windowsill for a bit until the summer comes - otherwise the cold nights might kill it.... (its a tropical plant after all!).

Well I'm not sure what's I've done to one of my Amarylis bulbs which I've kept but I've a flower spike coming up! Any else managed to get their Amarylis to flower in the summer or has the world gone mad?

I'm still waiting for the summer to come to put mine outsde
It does seem to have a new stalk coming though
So should I cut it off or just leave it to dry out
Think I'm as confused as the plant with this weather.

I'm still waiting for the summer to come to put mine outsde
It does seem to have a new stalk coming though
So should I cut it off or just leave it to dry out
Think I'm as confused as the plant with this weather.

Mine seem happy on an East facing windowsil so don't overly too worry about putting them out.

This new stalk - is it leaves or a fatter looking bud (ie a flower)? Either way keep it on and don't cut anything off til October time. Remember this is the time to get them fed up so a bit of fresh compost (but keep the same pot if you can and plant them no deeper than their 'shoulders'). Water once a week aswell.