How to grow Amaryllis? Mastering the right cultivation method is key

Amaryllis cultivation is simple; in most cases, just bury it in soil and it will grow lush and flourishing, and even a bare bulb forgotten in a corner can stubbornly bloom. Amaryllis is difficult to grow well, and during cultivation you often run into various obstacles such as bulb rot, degeneration, and pests and diseases, especially when planting imported bulbs, which require even more careful handling; otherwise, after one splendid flowering there may be a long period of silence. Below is a brief introduction to several key steps in amaryllis planting:

1. Amaryllis planting

The suitable growing temperature for amaryllis is around 20-25°C, and this can be used to decide the planting time. For home pot cultivation, you can refer to the following steps:

(1) Clean the bulb. Cut off the roots that have already rotted or dried out, and keep the remaining healthy roots. If the outside of the bulb has multiple layers of brown dried skin, you can peel off part of it to eliminate as much hidden risk of rot as possible.

(2) Rehydrate the bulb. If the bulb has lost a lot of water due to a long storage period, it is best to rehydrate it, that is, soak the middle and lower part of the bulb in clean water slightly warmer than the ambient temperature for 1 or 2 hours. Those with experience can add some plant hormones such as gibberellin to the water, which helps rooting and later bulb swelling, but pay attention to the concentration and soaking time, otherwise you may outsmart yourself.

(3) Disinfection. This is a key step in planting. Generally, common disinfectants such as carbendazim, chlorothalonil, and thiophanate-methyl can be used according to the instructions. After finishing, the disinfectant solution can be used for watering after planting to disinfect the soil.

2: Propagation by scoring

Select bulbs with a circumference of 24-26 cm, soak the bulbs in copper sulfate solution for 5 minutes, wash them with water, cut off 1/3 of the bulb, gently score the main bud in the center of the bulb with a knife, place them flat on a sand bed, keep the room temperature at 18-22°C, and maintain relatively high air humidity. After 2 months, several small bulbs form between the scales.

3: Propagation by tissue culture

MS medium is commonly used, with the stem disc, dormant bulb tissue, pedicel, and ovary as explants. After tissue culture, callus tissue first forms, adventitious roots form after 30 days, and adventitious buds form after 3-4 months.

That is all for today's content. The above is the introduction to amaryllis. Those who are still hesitating can rest assured, so go ahead and grow a pot! To learn more, please follow Four Seasons Plants Network!

Amaryllis cultivation methods

Amaryllis blooms in April in spring and also blooms in winter. To promote flowering, management should be strengthened early. It grows quickly, and after 1 year of growth, it should be repotted into a suitable pot. After 1 or 2 years of planting, the potting soil for amaryllis lacks nutrients. To promote growth and flowering in the new year, new soil should be used. It grows quickly, and after 1 or 2 years of growth, many small bulbs form at the top, so when changing the pot and soil, divide the plants at the same time. Plant the large plants together in one pot, the medium plants together in one pot, and the small plants together in one pot. When changing the pot, changing the soil, and planting, apply base fertilizer at the same time. After potting, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer once a month. The fertilizing principle is to apply lightly and frequently to promote flower bud differentiation and flowering. Amaryllis grows vigorously and blooms early, so pest and disease control should be carried out, spraying with horticultural medicine once a month. Spraying should be done around 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on sunny days. It is not suitable to spray under the strong midday sun, to prevent pesticide damage.

Amaryllis likes a warm, humid climate. The suitable growing temperature is around 23°C. It dislikes extreme heat, and sunlight should not be too intense, so it should be kept under a shade shed for care. It fears waterlogging. During the winter dormant period, it requires a cool climate, preferably 11°C, and must not go below 5°C. It likes sandy loam rich in humus and well drained. Artificial bulb cutting is often used to propagate bulblets in large quantities. That is, it is grown by methods such as sowing, bulb division, bulb cutting, and tissue culture.