Plant Rhizome

Hippeastrum (amaryllis)

Hippeastrum

A bulb. A short stem (the basal plate) wrapped in fleshy scales that hold the food store, with the next flower folded inside.

Whole
Cut open
StoreBulb. Cut it in half: you see layers like an onion.
DepthPot it with the top third of the bulb above the compost.
SpacingOne bulb per pot, about 2 to 3 cm of compost around it.
WhenPot indoors in autumn or winter. Pot up: 2 weeks to 10 weeks after your first autumn frost. Work out your dates.
PetsToxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses (ASPCA)

About Hippeastrum (amaryllis)

A large bulb grown in pots indoors for winter flowers. The top third of the bulb stays above the compost.

When to plant

Pot indoors in autumn or winter. Pot up: 2 weeks to 10 weeks after your first autumn frost. These are rules of thumb for the northern hemisphere. Enter your frost dates for real dates.

Dividing and propagating

Offsets form at the base; pot them separately in spring and grow on for a few years.

Lifting and storing

After flowering, feed and keep growing; rest the bulb dry in a cool place from late summer.

Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

The ASPCA lists Amaryllis spp. as: toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses. Toxic principle: Lycorine and others. Signs: Vomiting (not horses), depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremors. If your pet has chewed any part, call your vet or an animal poison helpline. ASPCA entry.

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