When an Amaryllis bulb blooms, the flower display can be absolutely stunning. The blooms are long lasting, growing on long stems right from the bulbs themselves. If this is your first time growing these beautiful flowers, you may be wondering how long do Amaryllis flowers last?
How Long Do Amaryllis Flowers Last?
Amaryllis flowers can last approximately two to three weeks per stem in ideal growing conditions. If they are grown in a cool room temperature, out of direct sunlight, and watered at least once a week during active growth they can bloom for up to several weeks. If they are used as cut flowers, picked in the ripe bud stage, and conditioned in the vase, some Amaryllis stems can bloom for up to three weeks.
My Red Lion Amaryllis bloomed three large flowers on one stem which lasted twelve days before they started to wither. It should be noted that all three blooms on this stem had been dabbed with pollen in an effort to do some hybridizing, and to make some amaryllis seeds for growing new plants.
Often when hybridizing, the flowers on the plant may not last as long as they normally would. This is because the energy of the plant becomes diverted into making new seeds.
The second stem on this Amaryllis bulb began to bloom approximately one week after the first. It grew four large flowers, and these blooms were not dabbed with pollen.
These stems bloomed in succession, extending the blooming time of the Amaryllis bulb.
Currently we are two weeks into blooming for this bulb. There are four flowers on the second stem, still in prime blooming condition.
Amaryllis Stems Bloom In Succession
Amaryllis plants usually produce more than one stem, depending on the size of the Amaryllis bulb that is planted. Bulbs will generally produce from two to three flower stems, and some larger bulbs can even produce up to four flowering stems.
The stems often bloom in succession, which can extend the flowering time of the plant. This is because each stem will have it's own blooming period.
If each stem blooms for ten days to two weeks, and the stems open up at seven day intervals, this can extend the total bloom time of the Amaryllis bulb.
This year my Amaryllis produced two stems.
The first stem had blooms that started to open up on Boxing Day. These blooms lasted for twelve days.
The second stem opened up the day after New Years Day. I anticipate that these blooms will have the same bloom time, if not a little longer than the first stem.
If all goes well, my Amaryllis flowers will have bloomed on two stems for a period of almost three weeks.
How To Make Amaryllis Flowers Last Longer
There are a number of things that you can do to extend the bloom life of your Amaryllis flowers.
Use these strategies to make Amaryllis flowers last longer:
- Keep your Amaryllis out of direct sunlight, which can cause some wilting of the blooms. It is best to keep the blooming stems is an area of indirect light.
- Water regularly during blooming, at least once per week with lukewarm water.
- Keep the room temperature on the cooler side for longer lasting blooms.
- Try cutting off the pollen containing anthers, as discussed in this article from Ohio State University Extension, to prolong the blooms for several more days.
- Try growing more than one variety of Amaryllis bulbs, which can stagger blooming times. Different Amaryllis varieties can have different blooming times.
- Grow larger bulbs for more stem succession.
- Try using Amaryllis as a cut flower in the vase to extend the bloom time.
Growing Amaryllis In A Vase To Prolong Bloom Life
Horticulture Magazine has a great post on the process of using Amaryllis as cut flowers to prolong bloom life, which you can read about here. Here are some key takeaways for cutting your Amaryllis blooms:
- When using Amaryllis blooms as cut flowers, cut early before the bud opens up. This will prolong the bloom life.
- Removing the Amaryllis flower stalk from the bulb early helps to preserve your bulb's energy, and increases potential for a second bloom.
- Cut and treat the Amaryllis stems as you would any other cut flower, using clean sharp scissors or a sharp knife.
- Be careful when cutting the stem so as not to injure the newly emerging Amaryllis leaves.
- The Amaryllis stem is a hollow stem, and is easy to cut and remove from the top of the bulb.
- Cut at a forty five degree angle close to the bulb. This allows for good water absorption in the vase.
- You may need to make a second clean fresh cut after removing the stem from the bulb.
- Make sure the vase is very clean, and disinfect if possible.
- Use proper conditioning for the flowers within the vase, such as a holding solution, which can extend bloom life.
- Change the water in the vase every couple of days, as you would with other cut flowers.
- Keep the blooms out of direct sunlight.
Amaryllis would look great in a holiday arrangement, with evergreen boughs and sprays of red dogwood branches.
How To Get Amaryllis To Rebloom
Once the Amaryllis blooms are spent, continue to care for the bulb as a house plant or tropical plant.
Amaryllis bulbs can rebloom once a year, year after year, with proper care.
It is likely that you will have flowers from your bulb again next year, if you take good care of the Amaryllis flower bulb after it has finished blooming.
Allow the Amaryllis plant to grow and develop it's leaves, which will provide energy to the bulb through photosynthesis. Grow the Amaryllis as an indoor plant during the winter months.
These bulbs actually make attractive indoor plants.
In the late spring after the danger of frost has passed, bring the plant outside to a sunny spot to grow for the summer months.
Dormancy Period
After optimal growth indoors and then a period of growth outside, provide a rest period or dormant period during which the bulb will develop flowers for the next blooming cycle.
During this period, place the bulb in a dark place and do not water for several months. The leaves will wither, but that's okay, this is a normal part of the bulb's period of dormancy.
Rebloom Period
Provide the plant with the proper Amaryllis care so that the bulb can regrow a new cycle of flowers.
In late October it's time to wake the bulb up from it's dormant state.
You can continue this cycle year after year with your Amaryllis bulbs, and have new blooms every winter, just in time for the holiday season.
Conclusion
Have you ever wondered how long Amaryllis flowers last?
I certainly had that question when I bought my first Amaryllis bulb.
Now I know that Amaryllis flowers can last for two to three weeks in full bloom, and if more stems are produced in succession, that can extend the bloom time even further.
There are many varieties of Amaryllis that have different blooming times, and this as well can extend the blooming period throughout the season.
Growing Amaryllis for cut flowers is another great way to extend the life of these wonderful flowers.
I personally love the look of the stems growing on the potted bulb itself. It is nice to know however, that there is an option to use as a cut flower as well.
Having these blooms in the winter months is so rewarding, when everything else in the garden is asleep, tucked safely away under the snow.
It helps us to fill a need to grow, and enjoy a special treat with these amazing blooms during the cold winter months.
Have you ever wondered how long do Amaryllis flowers last? Have you used unique ways to prolong bloom time, and to keep your Amaryllis blooms growing longer?
Be sure to leave a comment down below to share your experience!
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