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How to Plant Amaryllis Bulbs Indoors (Week-by-Week)
Amaryllis is the only large-flowered bulb you can plant on a Sunday and see flowering before the end of the year. It needs no garden, no cold period and no specialist equipment — just a pot that is barely wider than the bulb and the brightest windowsill you have.
What you need
- A top-size amaryllis bulb (bigger bulbs carry two or three flower stems instead of one)
- A pot 1–2 in wider than the bulb, with drainage holes
- Free-draining compost — roughly two parts potting mix to one part perlite or grit
- Something to water with, and patience for about six weeks
Week 1: plant it
Half-fill the pot with compost, sit the bulb on top with the roots spread out, and backfill so that the top third of the bulb stays above the surface. Water once, until it runs out of the drainage holes, then leave it alone.
Keep the pot somewhere warm — around 70°F (21°C) — and out of direct sun until you see a green shoot. This is the only stage where people go wrong: watering again before the shoot appears is how bulbs rot.
Week 2–3: the shoot appears
Once a green nose pushes through, move the pot to the brightest spot in the house. A south- or west-facing windowsill is ideal. From here, water when the top inch of compost feels dry — usually once a week.
Week 4–5: the stem stretches
The stem grows fast, often an inch a day. If it leans hard toward the window, turn the pot a quarter-turn each morning; the stem will straighten itself. Tall doubles sometimes need a slim cane for support.
Week 6–8: flowering
Each stem carries three to five flowers that open in sequence, so a single bulb can stay in bloom for a month. Keep the plant out of direct midday sun while it flowers — it lasts longer in bright, indirect light, and away from radiators.
After flowering: how to get it to bloom again
Cut the spent flower stem an inch above the bulb, but leave the leaves. Move the plant to a sunny spot, water and feed it through spring and summer — the leaves are what rebuild the bulb. In early autumn, stop watering and let the leaves die back, then start the cycle again.
Which colour should you grow?
We carry fifteen flowering varieties, from clean white to near-black burgundy. See the full range in Amaryllis colours explained.
Common questions
How long do amaryllis bulbs take to sprout?
Two to three weeks at room temperature. If nothing appears after four weeks, check the bulb is firm — a soft bulb has rotted from overwatering.
Can I plant several bulbs in one pot?
Yes, but leave an inch between them. Three bulbs in a 10-inch pot makes a dense display that flowers over several weeks.
Do amaryllis bulbs need to be chilled?
No. Amaryllis is tropical and does not need the cold treatment that tulips or hyacinths require.
