Don't Trash That Amaryllis Plant

As the holidays start winding down, chances are your amaryllis plant has already stopped blooming.

But don't throw it away! If you follow some easy tips from House & Garden magazine, your plant will bloom again next year.

House & Garden magazine's Stephen Orr says amaryllis is a popular plant to give at the holidays, because even the most avid non-gardener would be hard-pressed to keep these bulbs from blooming. The trouble is, once they finish blooming, most people toss their amaryllis in the trash.

Orr says amaryllis plants bloom in their first season, making them one of the most foolproof plants you can buy or give as a gift. Since they are a Central and South American plant, they bloom during our winter, which is the southern hemisphere's summer. Each blossom can last for a week or more. Since the plants usually have several blooming stalks, you can have a blossom for over a month.

Unlike most houseplants, they like to be pot-bound. Orr says they only need to be repotted every 3 to 5 years. Orr suggests you turn the pot every few days so that it won't lean toward the light.

Here's how you can get your amaryllis to rebloom for next year:

• Cut the flower stem off at the base after the flowers fade, and water as you would normal houseplant (once a week).
• Keep the amaryllis in a spot with bright indirect light and normal temperature.
• As the weather warms up in springtime, begin a little fertilizing, water more often and, as summer approaches, you can even keep it outdoors.
• In autumn, withhold all water and the leaves will start turning yellow.
• Then cut off all dead and dying foliage and store the bulb in its container or in a dark, cool room (or even the refrigerator) for up to six weeks.
• In early winter, bring the plant into a warmer, sunny room, but withhold water until the flower bud pokes out of the bulb.

Voila! Your amaryllis is back! Now you can give it as a gift to someone else or keep it to enjoy yourself.