Amaryllis Care and Decorating Ideas for Christmas

Follow these no-fuss instructions to nurture your new amaryllis bulb into several bright, blooming flowers just in time for Christmas.

1. Water your amaryllis properly. Water your amaryllis bulb sparingly until a flower spike appears. When watering your amaryllis, allow the water to drain through its container and make sure the water stays below the top of the bulb. The soil should be moist but never soggy.
2. Place the pot in a just-right place. Finding the best place to put your growing amaryllis is important. The pot needs to be in a sunny spot, but amaryllis flowers are touchy about cool breezes, so put the pot in a place where it won't get a draft.
3. Wait patiently. Amaryllis take anywhere from four to six weeks to produce blooms, so patience is key when taking care of your flowers. To produce blooms for a Christmas decoration, plant your bulb in early or mid-November.
4. Pay attention to the flowers. Once the amaryllis flowers start to open, move the container to indirect light for best results. To maintain the best look in your arrangement and to keep your amaryllis healthy, snip off flowers as they fade. Cut the stems about an inch from the base after all of the flowers have bloomed.

Print these instructions for a pretty tag to put on a gift.