Amaryllis

I need some advice. Year before last I was sent Amaryllis for Christmas. It bloomed beautifully. I let the greens die down and then it hung around waiting for me to repot the bulbs. I never did. I put it on the back stairs and it sat there for the rest of the year and until now. Now, I guess because the sun is higher, the green shoots are starting to grow. Its dry as a bone. I haven't watered it since sometime last fall I guess. I realize that its life cycle is all off now. I've been reading about repotting it and I need to get a bigger dish (it's not in a conventional grow pot with holes in the bottom, but a ceramic pot that's 8".) I plan to go out today and get a 9" pot and bulb growing medium. Should I get another ceramic pot or just put it into a plastic pot with holes on the bottom that could sit in some other decorative container later? Some of what I read says I can just use the organic potting soil I have cut 50/50 with coarse sand. Is this true? Am I correct to repot and let it grow through the summer? I could really use some advice because I'm really not knowledgeable about bulbs at all much less Amaryllis.

Candy, that's typical of Amaryllis, they break dormancy and start growing when they're ready, watered or not. I've even seen them bloom in a box on a store shelf. I'd recommend keeping it in a pot with drainage holes, then you can just display it in something decorative when its blooming. I keep mine in the pot till it outgrows it, then repot. After blooming I keep mine outside in the shade and water and fertilize along with the rest of my tropicals and house plants, then in fall I bring them in and stop watering to allow them to go dormant. In early spring mine wake up and buds start emerging, that's when I start watering again. I use a free draining potting mix, something like Miracle Grow potting soil with fine bark mulch or course grit added, but I've never found them to be very picky about their growing medium, as long as it doesn't stay too wet.
Best of luck,
Neal

Gee, thanks. I can't believe the thing is still alive. I'm not good with house plants, or tropicals wintered inside. This plant must like it here. I'll put it in another pot. There was almost no soil left at all in the ceramic pot it came in. We'll see if it survives me. I suppose outside can't happen until the temps are much warmer, right?

Right, I'd wait till danger of frost is past. Aren't they strange how they can lay there like a lifeless lump, and spring into growth without even being watered!

They certainly are strange. Keeps me on my toes to have plants behave strangely though. Thanks for your help.

Wait until the end of May to put it outside in our area. Keep in a sunny south or west window for now.

Tom (also in Po-town!)

One of mine is about to explode!

That's going to be beautiful.

Just thought I'd let you know that I transplanted the bulbs and I've got flower stalks growing now. Can't believe I'm going to get a second blooming on these things. I'm so bad at houseplants that this really surprises me. Thanks for your help. I'll try to make myself take a picture.

Here's a picture of the Amaryllis I asked for help with. Still can't believe it.

Hi Candy,
It's still too early to put it outside, another 3 weeks. Looking good otherwise!

Thanks for your help.