How To Grow Amaryllis & My Annual Contest

Amaryllis is one of my favourite holiday plants, for many reasons:

It is ‘dummy-proof’. Anyone can grow them!

It is o.k. to ignore. Water only once a week or so (when the soil gets dry about a centimeter down).

Multiple blooms. One shoot will produce 4 blooms, minimum. But wait – here comes a second! And a couple of weeks later, a third may arrive!  The larger the bulb, the more blooms it will produce.

Check out my own Mark’s Choice amaryllis kit at Home Hardware.  The top-sized bulb, 28 to 39 cm, is about as big as they come!   You will get a great show in a handsome ceramic pot.  Great gift for anyone on your list!   Only $21.99.   Very good value for this level of quality.

How To:  Plant your amaryllis in a pot 2″ wider than the diameter of the bulb.  Fill the pot 1⁄3 full of potting soil.  Place the bulb on top of the soil spreading out the roots.  Add more soil around the bulb and water thoroughly.  Leave the top 2” of the bulb showing above the soil level.  Place the pot in a warm bright place and water sparingly.  When growth starts, increase watering to keep the soil evenly moist and provide plenty of light.  As the stalk grows, rotate the pot to keep it straight. Flowers usually open 8-10 weeks after planting.

Once your amaryllis blooms, take a photo.  Submit your photo to my contest for a chance to win a Home Hardware gift card.

First place prize, a $100 gift card, will be awarded to the amaryllis with the most blooms.

Second place prize, a $50 gift card, will be awarded to the largest single bloom.

Third place prize, a signed copy of my gardening book The Canadian Garden Primer, will be awarded to a winner selected randomly from all other entries.

Email your photo entry to groundskeeper@markcullen.com.  Please use the subject line ‘amaryllis contest’.