How to water potted Amaryllis: how often to water, and how to fertilize
Growing potted plants is something that almost any household with a bit of aesthetic sense and a taste for life will do, and apart from the initial stage of growing potted plants, when every aspect of the potted plant needs to be tended to, at other times you only need to respond to the plant's growth state. Then provide the plant with the corresponding water and nutrients. Of course, some special cases are exceptions.
How to water potted amaryllis
Although amaryllis likes moisture, it should not be watered too much. If it is grown on a balcony, water it less; if it is grown on a rooftop (that is, an outdoor environment with strong light), water it more, and it must be watered every day. Only in this way can the plant's moisture level be ensured. Newly planted amaryllis does not need watering; generally, once the leaves the plant has grown reach 10 cm in length, you can water normally. The water should soak through but not become waterlogged; just keep the potting soil moist. During the growing period, the amount of water can be increased, but watering alone cannot meet the growth needs of amaryllis. At this time, it is generally watered with some fertilizer water, that is, water mixed with some organic fertilizer, applied on a 10-day cycle. As the flowering period approaches, amaryllis needs a large amount of water, both sufficient and soaking through; the watering frequency can be appropriately increased, but water still must not accumulate in the pot. When winter comes, the cold temperature will stop the amaryllis plant from growing and cause it to enter dormancy. At this time, it no longer needs watering; even if it is dry, there is no need to water.
How to fertilize amaryllis
1. Notes before fertilizing
To learn how to fertilize, you also need to understand how to prepare the bulbs before fertilizing. To make fertilizing achieve the best effect, before fertilizing you should do the following:
Loosen the soil. Before fertilizing, use a small wooden stick to loosen the soil. With long-term watering and fertilizing, the soil has poor aeration and is very prone to becoming compacted. Loosening the soil at the right time helps the absorption of nutrients.
For potted amaryllis, keep as many small bulbs as possible; this can increase the ornamental beauty of the potted plant and also store nutrients.
Repotting. Not every fertilizing requires repotting. For plants that are loosened regularly, repot once every 2 to 3 years.
2. Grasp several key points in fertilizing amaryllis
① Supplement potassium fertilizer
Amaryllis is a bulbous flower, and the health of the roots affects the growth of the whole plant. Appropriately supplementing potassium fertilizer is beneficial to the development of new bulbs and the enlargement of old bulbs.
② Grasp the timing
In March, before the plant sprouts, fertilize once to help rooting and the growth of new leaves.
From April to June is the growing period and flower bud differentiation period of amaryllis. To ensure bright flower color, supplement fertilizer once a month.
From September to October is the bulb growing period. The plant has a few leaves, and the flower buds develop normally, so apply fertilizer once a month.
From December to January, the plant hibernates; stop fertilizing.
Before June, you can apply more nitrogen fertilizer; after June, increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.
How to repot amaryllis
Amaryllis is a relatively fast-growing plant. After a year of growth in a pot, the nutrients in the soil are almost used up. To allow amaryllis to continue growing and flowering, it needs to be repotted.
The suitable time for repotting amaryllis is roughly early spring or early autumn. When repotting, keep some of the root soil on the roots. The soil in the new pot must be loose, fertile, well-draining, and contain humus. Once these are prepared, you can repot. After repotting, place it in a place with little light.
How to extend the flowering period of amaryllis
1. Preparation of flower soil
If you want to grow it well and have it flower longer, the flower soil must be chosen well. This is especially true for some flower soil bought from outside. When you bring it home, the first task is to replace more than half of the old soil, and then mix it according to its growth habits. It generally prefers flower soil with a high nutrient content. So when mixing, the soil can be selected according to this standard.
2. Control of light and temperature
It likes light very much. Usually, the ones bought from outside are mostly in a blooming state, so we can place them in a spot indoors with ample light. Especially in winter, it must be ensured that it gets 4 to 6 hours of light every day, and the temperature should be adjusted to 18 to 25 degrees, which can make the flowering period longer.
3. Supply of water and fertilizer
For a flower to bloom, water and fertilizer are indispensable. Amaryllis likes a moist environment very much, but it must not be overly moist, so when giving water we must strictly control the amount. For example, we can water appropriately according to how moist the soil is. When watering, it is best to choose a spray bottle to spray its surface, so as to fully maintain its moisture level. In addition, amaryllis likes fertilizer very much, especially those about to bloom, so you can usually supplement it with a little more phosphorus fertilizer, and after flowering add a little compound fertilizer.
4. Daily care
As the plant continues to grow, its bulbs will also grow larger, and then more small bulbs will be produced. So we can repot, change the soil, and divide the plants every spring, so that the flowering period next year will be longer and more flowers will bloom.
In growing amaryllis, besides some daily care, repotting is also very necessary at the right time. Since amaryllis is a plant that keeps growing, timely repotting will greatly improve the growth state of the whole plant. In addition, extending the flowering period of amaryllis is also good news for true amaryllis fans.