Amaryllis Bulbs Care – Waxed Ones Don’t Need Water or Soil

By Jill Brooke

Many ask how to water the popular amaryllis bulbs that are coated in decorative wax. They come in a variety of encased colors. Gold. White, Red. Green.  Plus there are varities of colors of the amaryllis blooms as well. Red, red and white, and white.

Just like the three ice cube care for orchids that turned that flower into a blockbuster seller – the waxed amaryllis has been a boom for nurseries, catalogs and stores selling them. Low maintenance is definitely a crowd-pleaser. Now millions are sold.

So what is care?

Answer: 

 Waxed amaryllis bulbs require NO water or soil. Yup, it’s true. Just place the bulb in bright or indirect light near a window or door. These holiday pleasers like room temperatures of 70.

Flower stalks usually emerge in 4 to 6 weeks. According to Iowa State University, this happens because the flower is utilizing the stored carbohydrates in the large bulb.  Rotate the bulb every few days to keep the stalk growing straight.  Often two, sometimes three or four, flower stalks will grow producing blooms for up to three weeks.  Remove each flower stalk as the last bloom on it fades.

After they bloom, remove the wax before composting. Especially the ones with decorative glitter that is added to the wax. Experts warn that the glitter doesn’t compost well.

Whatever you do, enjoy the flower and the tradition of having it for your holiday fun.