How to Care for Amaryllis

Amaryllis are the giants of the vase: tall, hollow stems topped with a cluster of big trumpet flowers. Each stem carries several buds that open one after another, so with good care a stem stays colorful for about 7 to 12 days. The one thing that matters most is the base of the stem, because a hollow amaryllis stem tends to split and curl at the end if you leave it alone.

When your amaryllis arrive

1. Set the arrangement on a steady, flat surface right away. Amaryllis heads are heavy, and a tall design is easier to tip than it looks.
2. Check the water level and top it up with cool, clean water. Stir in the flower food packet we include, following the directions on the packet.
3. Look at the stem ends. If you see a band of tape around the bottom of an amaryllis stem, leave it on. It is there on purpose.
4. If a stem has a thin stick inside it, leave that in too. It carries the weight of the flowers.
5. Pick a cool spot out of direct sun, away from radiators, heating vents and the fruit bowl.

If yours sits in green foam, keep the foam soaked and leave the stems in place.

Everyday care

• Add water daily. Big blooms drink a lot.
• Change the water every 2 days or so, or sooner if it turns cloudy. Wash the vase before refilling it, and add flower food if you have more (garden centers and florists sell it).
• When you change the water, trim about half an inch off each stem with a sharp knife or clean shears, holding the stem gently, since hollow stems crush easily.
• Keep the room cool. Warmth opens the buds faster and shortens the show.
• Snap or cut off each flower as it fades so the stem looks clean and the next buds have room.

For the basics that apply to every arrangement, see our guide to making cut flowers last.

Make them last longer

Amaryllis stems are hollow tubes, and a cut end soaking in water likes to split into strips that curl outward like ribbons. Then the stem drinks poorly. Florists wrap a band of waterproof florist tape around the bottom inch of each stem to hold it together. If the tape comes loose or you trim above it, you can re-wrap the new end with waterproof tape, or trim the split part away.

A few more tricks we use:

• Support the stem. On a tall stem, a thin bamboo cane or wooden stick slid up inside the hollow stem helps carry the heavy head.
• Don't drown it. Amaryllis do not need deep water. In a mixed arrangement, just keep the vase at its normal level and change it often.
• Keep ethylene away. Ripening fruit gives off a gas that ages flowers. Keep the arrangement away from the kitchen counter.
• Let the buds do their work. Buds open in sequence, usually a few days apart. Tight buds on a fresh stem are a good sign, not a problem.

Common problems

Why are my amaryllis stems splitting and curling?

That is normal behavior for a hollow stem sitting in water. Trim off the curled part with a clean cut, then wrap the new end with a band of waterproof tape. Changing the water often and using flower food helps the stems stay firm.

Why is my amaryllis leaning or bending?

The heads are heavy, and a stem that has split at the base or gone soft can fold. Turn the vase so the flowers are not reaching toward a bright window, trim and re-tape the stem, and slide a thin stick up inside for support. If the stem has creased in the middle, it will not straighten, so cut it short and use the flowers low in a small vase.

Why aren't all the buds opening?

They open one after another, not all at once, so patience is part of it. A cool room slows them down, which also makes them last. If the last one or two buds in the cluster stay green and hard after the others have finished, the stem has likely run out of energy, and that is the end of that stem.

Something looked wrong when the flowers arrived. What should I do?

Take a photo and contact us within 3 days of delivery or pickup with your order number, as described in our refund policy. We'll take a look and make it right where we can.

What about a potted amaryllis bulb?

If you were given a potted amaryllis rather than cut stems, the care is different. Ours come staked with bamboo and tied with raffia; leave the stake in, because the tall stalk and big flowers are heavy. Give it bright light, keep the soil barely moist so the bulb does not rot, and turn the pot every few days so the stalk grows straight. Once the flowers open, a cooler spot out of direct sun makes them last longer. Cut off faded flowers. When the whole flower stalk starts to yellow, cut it off a few inches above the top (neck) of the bulb, and keep the leaves growing in a sunny window with regular watering. Reblooming takes a summer of good growth. Many gardeners then give the bulb a cool, dry rest of 8 to 10 weeks in fall to time the next flowers, so treat it as a project for patient gardeners.

Good to know

• Pets: The ASPCA lists amaryllis as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Keep the arrangement where pets cannot chew leaves, stems or bulbs, and if you think a pet has eaten any, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Our pet-safe flowers guide covers the rest of the vase.
• Pollen: The open flowers have long stamens with pollen that can stain petals, tablecloths and clothes. You can pull the anthers off gently with a tissue. If pollen lands on fabric, brush or lift it off dry with tape; a wet cloth pushes it deeper.
• Scent: Most amaryllis have little or no fragrance, which makes them easy to place on a dining table or in an office.
• What you may see from us: tall orange amaryllis in Elegance, red amaryllis with red roses and berries over white hydrangea in Cerise, red amaryllis with orange roses and yellow cymbidiums in Exuberance, and amaryllis in the low fall centerpiece Autumn Splendor.
• Season: Amaryllis are best known as a late fall and winter flower, when they fill holiday designs, though cut stems are grown for much of the year. For availability, call the shop.