Bulbs: Amaryllis bulbs - time to stop?, 1 by MzMunchken

MzMunchken wrote:
Amaryllis bulbs in their native habitat go for months without water.. and then during the rainy period which is Spring come back to life and bloom.

In order to "force" your bulb to bloom for the Christmas holiday remove them carefully from the soil if they are in the ground.. if they are in pots.. leave them in the pot. place them in a dark/dry area that does NOT freeze.. you should be doing this step around the end of August. Don't worry about the dead or drying leaves on the bulb.. they can be cut off easily enough.. just make sure you don't cut too close to the crown of the bulb.

Around the end of October.. bring the potted plant out of dormancy.. if you had bulbs, repot in a mixture that allows good drainage. Start watering VERY sparingly until first signs of growth.. then increase the water.. a nice bright sunny window will be perfect.. don't forget to turn the pot every few days so that the stalk is nice and straight.