Amaryllis plants can rebloom year after year, but there are a few steps you’ll need to take to get them to flower again reliably.
You can easily trigger it by controlling the light, water, and temperature. It’s also important to get the timing right to ensure the biggest and most robust display for the holidays.
In this post I’m going to show you exactly how to make your amaryllis bloom again, with detailed step-by-step instructions, and I’ll also tell you when you need to start the process.
What Triggers Amaryllis To Rebloom?
There are 3 main environmental changes that trigger an amaryllis to bloom: drought, darkness, and cool temperatures.
These three things will force the bulb to go dormant, or rest. They need 6-8 weeks of rest so they can build up enough energy to flower.
Related Post: Dormant Amaryllis Care, Timing, Preparation & How To Revive It
When Will Mine Flower Again?
If you follow the correct steps, your amaryllis will bloom about 4-6 weeks after you bring it out of the dark, or once it breaks dormancy.
It’s easy to control the timing for Christmas. But if you let it happen naturally, they can flower anywhere from mid-winter through spring, depending on the environment.
How Do I Get My Amaryllis To Bloom Again?
To get your amaryllis to rebloom, you need to control the amount of water and light you give it, as well as the temperature.
If you’re trying to time it for Christmas, you should start the process sometime between September 17 and October 15. Here are the 4 main steps to take.
1. Stop Watering & Fertilizing
You should stop watering and feeding your plant in the fall about 10-14 weeks before you want it to flower again.
This is the first trigger to the bulb that it’s time to rest. At this time, allow the soil to dry out completely, and don’t water it at all.
2. Put It In The Dark
The bulb needs complete darkness for 6-8 weeks. So move it inside to a dark and dry location, like a closet, windowless garage, basement, or a storage area.
You can leave the bulb right in the pot, or dig it up and store it bare-root. The leaves will eventually die back on their own, or you could cut them off if you prefer.
3. Keep It Cool
Though it’s not as important to get the temperature exactly right for reblooming, it’s best to keep your amaryllis bulb cool so it doesn’t break dormancy early.
So try to find a spot where the temperature stays between 45-60°F, but make sure it never drops below freezing.
Related Post: How To Properly Store Amaryllis Bulbs
4. Wake It Up
After 4-6 weeks, bring your amaryllis out of the dark and give it a deep drink to moisten the soil. If yours is bare-root, pot it up using a fresh growing mix.
Then move it to a warm area where it will get lots of bright light. The best spot is a sunny location, like a south-facing window.
How Long Does It Take Amaryllis To Bloom Again?
It takes anywhere from 10 to 14 weeks for an amaryllis to rebloom once it enters dormancy.
After you bring it out of the dark, it could start to sprout right away, or it can take a few weeks, depending on the environment.
But it will usually take 6 to 8 weeks for your plant to come into full bloom after its rest period.
Why Won’t My Amaryllis rebloom?
Your amaryllis won’t rebloom if it hasn’t regenerated enough energy, or if it doesn’t get a proper rest period.
They need 4-6 weeks of dormancy to flower again, which doesn’t always happen naturally, so you’ll need to force it.
But if you follow all the steps to give it a rest, and it still won’t bloom, then make sure you’re giving it the right care during the active growth season.
To build up the energy, they need lots of sunlight and fertilizer in the spring and summer months. The easiest way to provide that is to put your plant outside in a full sun location during the summer, and feed it monthly with a flowering fertilizer or compost tea.
Related Post: How To Care For An Amaryllis Plant (Hippeastrum)
Why Is My Amaryllis Only Growing Leaves?
Don’t panic if your amaryllis only has leaves at first. Sometimes the foliage will start to grow before the flower stalk, and that’s perfectly normal.
This doesn’t mean it won’t bloom again, just be patient and give it more time. You can tell the difference right away because the leaves are flat and thin, and the bud is thick and fat.
What To Do Once It Starts Blooming
For the biggest and best display, it’s very important to give your amaryllis the proper care when it starts to rebloom. Otherwise the spikes can get tall and leggy and fall over, or the flowers may not be very large. Here’s how to treat your plant once it starts sprouting.
- Increase watering – Keep the soil evenly moist, but do not overwater. Let the top 1” dry between drinks. Use a moisture gauge probe to get it right.
- Give it plenty of light – Once they start budding, the flower stems grow very quickly. So give it as much sunlight as possible to prevent legginess. If your home is dark, add a grow light.
- Keep it warm – If the room is cold it will take much longer for the flower buds to open. For the quickest results, keep the temperature between 65-80°F. You can place the potted bulb on a heat mat to speed things up.
Related Post: What To Do With An Amaryllis After It Blooms
FAQs
Typically each bulb will only bloom one time per year, but some will flower twice. They will rebloom again reliably every year for decades when you take the proper steps.
Yes, a waxed amaryllis can rebloom. Simply remove the wax and plant your bulb into soil after it’s done flowering so it can regenerate enough energy for next year.
To get timing right for Christmas, you need to start the rest period sometime in late-September to mid-October. Then bring them out of storage in mid to late November, or 6-8 weeks after you put them in the dark.
If you want to learn all there is to know about maintaining healthy indoor plants, then you need my Houseplant Care eBook. It will show you everything you need to know about how to keep every plant in your home thriving. Download your copy now!
More About Amaryllis Plants
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Share your tips for how to make amaryllis bloom again in the comments section below.
Printable Instructions
How To Rebloom Amaryllis Bulbs
It's easy to trigger your amaryllis to bloom every year. Follow these simple instructions for the biggest and most beautiful flowers.
Materials
- Amaryllis plant
- Potting soil (optional)
Instructions
- Stop watering and fertilizing - Beginning somewhere between 10-14 weeks before you want your plant to rebloom, stop fertilizing and watering it.
- Force dormancy - Put it in a cool, dark location, like an unheated basement or garage, where the temperature will stay between 45-60°F. You can leave it in the pot or store it bare-root.
- Wait for 6-8 weeks - Keep your amaryllis in the dark for 6-8 weeks. Allow the soil and the bulb to dry out completely, and don't water it at all. The leaves will die back, so you can remove them as they dry up or use sharp pruners to cut them off while they’re still green.
- Wake up the bulb - If you stored your bulb bare-root, plant it in a container with drainage holes using fresh potting soil. Give it a deep drink, allowing the excess to drain off completely. Then move it to a warm, sunny window or use a grow light.
- Watch for new growth - Some amaryllis bulbs will start blooming within a few days, while others could take 4-6 weeks - so be patient. Try placing the pot on a heat mat to help break dormancy faster.
Notes
- Amaryllis flower bulbs must rest for 6-8 weeks, and it can take another 4-6 weeks for them to rebloom. So for a Christmas display, put them into storage sometime in mid-September to mid-October.
- Don’t worry if yours starts getting leaves before flowers, sometimes that happens. It's normal, so just be patient and give it more time.
- Amaryllis bulbs need to be fully mature to bloom. So, smaller ones may not flower, even if you follow all of these steps perfectly. It could take several years before they’re large enough.
Rae Smylie says
I do everything listed here, except for repotting. I just place my bulbs in vases that are shaped similarly to an hour glass but smaller at the upper portion – kind of like an hour glass figure over time – larger on the bottom.
Rebloom beautifully.
After blooming, I cut back bloom, let leaves turn yellow and store on garage shelf until time to start over.
Easy.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, thanks for sharing how you get your amaryllis bulbs to rebloom every year!
Terresa says
I bought a bulb 3 weeks ago and it produced 2 flower spikes and is currently blooming. It has NOT produced leaves. Will it produced leaves when it is finished blooming?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes! It’s very common for amaryllis bulbs to bloom before the leaves grow, so no worries there. 🙂
Bev says
Howdy, I am planning on making a row of Amaryllis in my garden with my 30+ bulbs that I grew from seed. Should I leave part of the bulb above ground or cover it completely so they won’t get sunburned. I will be digging them up in the fall as I live in northern Iowa.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I recommend hardening your amaryllis bulbs before transplanting them to your garden. Move them to a shady area outside, and leave them there for a few days. Then slowly move them into the every day over a period of 1.5 – 2 weeks. Once they’re in full sun, they’re ready to go into the garden, and you won’t have to worry about them getting sunburn.
Bev says
Thanks–they have been outside for over 3 weeks so I put them in the garden today. Will see how they do until fall, then I’ll dig them and put them in the basement until spring.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sounds perfect! 🙂
Earnie says
my amaryllis bloomed beautifully indoors during cold months. I cut the bloom stalks off and now it has grown these long leaves. It’s April now and I haven’t watered it since it bloomed. It’s still in its pot. What do I do now to get it to bloom again this winter. Not sure what to do with those long leaves.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Your amaryllis won’t bloom again this year, it needs a period of rest in order to bloom again next year. Follow the instructions above in the article to learn exactly what you need to do.
Michelle says
Great post and information, thanks! Just wondering if the wax is obvious, as I tossed the packaging and want to try to keep the bulbs. If it’s a waxed bulb I may just be wasting my time.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, the wax is very obvious. Many times it’s colored or decorated for the holiday season too. If you had a waxed amaryllis bulb, the entire bulb would be encased in a thick layer of wax.
MIchelle says
Thanks Amy!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!
Barbara s says
Followed the steps and now have two tall leaves but no bud stem appears.
Did not fertilize tho.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sometimes the leaves can start growing before the flower spikes will appear. Give it time, and hopefully your amaryllis will bloom! If it doesn’t flower this year, then try fertilizing it next summer and see if that does the trick for getting it to rebloom next year. Enjoy!
Lynn Gardner says
I live in Phoenix, AZ and when I put my plant outside it started to die from the heat. I brought it inside and it is doing great.Now I’m wondering do you cut the leaves off to put it in a dormant state and should I wait until it gets cooler here? My garage is still very hot and I have no basement. If I put it in a paper bag and put it in a closet, will that be enough? Or should I wait until it is cooler here and then try to have it bloom later, like in the spring? Thanks for any help.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can cut the leaves off the plant to help encourage dormancy. Putting your amaryllis bulb into a paper bag in a dark closet should do the trick. 🙂
Alla Khromykh says
I did not know waxed amaryllis was a disposable thing. So, when they (I had 2 pots/plants bought from Trader Joe’s) stopped blooming and looked like dead, I investigated the bulbs, found out they were alive , and I could not through out live plants. I unwaxed them and planted them into regular soil. They took off happily. But now, several months later, each of them have 2 leaves over 2 feet each and nothing else. There’s nothing visible in between the leaves at all. Is there something else to do to change the way they develop? I have no garden, just tiny pretty dark apartment. What would you suggest?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, happy to hear that your waxed amaryllis bulbs survived! Like I mention in the post, amaryllis bulbs need a period of dormancy in order to rebloom, and fall is the time to start the process. Follow the instructions in this post to get them to rebloom for you again. 🙂
sue says
I grew my amaryllis outside when I lived in Florida and they returned every year with no assistance from me. However, we moved to Tennessee 3 years ago and I got a beautiful amaryllis for the holidays. It remains in my kitchen, the leaves died and it went dormant. It is May 17 and it is growing leaves and sprouting again!!!!! Twice in the same year!!!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, amaryllis can easily be grown in the garden in warm climates! So excited your dormant amaryllis is starting to grow again. I hope it will flower for you!
Becky G. says
i had gotten 2 bulbs during the holidays. They are growing in water and some small rocks. When i was straightening up the bulb i noticed that the roots was cut off there is one or two small roots on the side but nothing big. I am wondering on if i plant them in soil and try to grow them, what will happen. Do you have any advice? Thanks
Amy Andrychowicz says
You can certainly try potting your amaryllis bulbs in soil to see if they will grow, but usually amaryllis bulbs that are grown in water will not survive in soil afterwards. They are usually just discarded after growing in water. But like I said, it’s definitely worth a shot, you never know! 🙂
Becky says
Yes never know. They still have the growing leaves and maybe bloom again. And the roots are growing again. I will try to plant them in soil and see how it turns out. I will keep you posted. Thanks again.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Good luck! I hope they’ll grow and rebloom for you.
Joan Coughran says
I have two bulbs that I started at Thanksgiving. One was from last year and was kept dormant until then. Neither the new bulb or the old bulb has produced flowers just green leaves that are over two foot tall. Is this normal? Do I just keep them till leaves die and try again next year?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sometimes amaryllis bulbs will grow leaves before they grow flowers, so you might still be surprised by flowers this year. But, if they don’t end up blooming then yes, keep them growing through the summer, and follow the directions in this post to get them to rebloom for next year. Good luck!
Jessica says
Great advice! Just curious, why won’t the waxed bulbs re-bloom? I purchased 4 yesterday, cut the dead stems, removed wax and re-potted. They have little nubs for roots.
-Jessica
Amy Andrychowicz says
Since waxed amaryllis bulbs are sold as disposable plants, growers usually cut off all the roots before dipping the bulb in wax, which is why you usually can’t rebloom them. But if your amaryllis bulbs have healthy roots growing, then I say go for it. Fun experiment, and you have nothing to lose! 🙂 I’d love to hear if they end up surviving for you.
Irma Kay Strickler says
Hello,
I recieved a “waxed bulb” as a gift a couple of years ago. After the bloom faded, I very carefully peeled off the wax & planted it in good potting soil , kept it watered , in partial shade, the same as I have an assortment of different varieties of amaryllis. The very next year it bloomed and again the following year. I was so excited! It continues to grow in the pot I put it in.
Irma Kay Strickler says
I live in NE central Florida.
Irma Kay Strickler
Amy Andrychowicz says
Woohoo, that is awesome! I’ve heard others have similar success with reblooming waxed amaryllis bulbs. Thanks so much for sharing your success with us!
Richard Marks says
I bought a packaged amaryllis that had a (completely white) leaf and flower in the box. Is there a way to recover it?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Was it white because of lack of light? If so, then I would imagine that you could pot up the amaryllis and put it near a sunny window and it will start to get it’s color back pretty quickly. I’m not sure if it will fully recover before the bloom fades though. Just be sure to keep the foliage growing in plenty of light so that the amaryllis bulb can regenerate enough energy to rebloom again next year.
Jennifer Rickert says
I forgot the step of moving the amaryllis bulb outside. Is that Ok? Will my plant bloom again? It was been inside since the spring. I just moved it into my cold cellar in hopes that it will bloom again this year.
Looking forward to hearing back from you. Jennifer
Amy Andrychowicz says
It could still rebloom as long as it got enough light over the summer. So, if you had your amaryllis plant in a sunny window, or growing under lights. But, even if it wasn’t, you never know so it’s totally worth the try! 🙂 Good luck!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Hi PlantPostings – thanks! I'm glad you like the "time lapse" slideshow. I love modern technology! 🙂 It was fun to see them grow and bloom.
Amy
Debbie says
Thank you for the info, I have a amaryllis plant and excited to see it flower for the first time. This was very helpful it showed me how to take care of my plant. The leaves are so tall in my pot and I brought it indoors on a sunny porch and can’t wait for it to bloom. Never bloomed hoping it will because I have tall leaves.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Don’t forget that you need to let it go dormant in a cool, dark location in order for it to bloom. Good luck!
Melanie says
So thrilled to see my “rescued Amaryllis”starting to grow AGAIN.It had gnats in the home my Mom was in before going to hospital.Brought it home,kept it outside till taking most of the soil off and reporting.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wonderful, so glad you were able to rescue the amaryllis! I hope it will bloom for you this winter. 🙂
PlantPostings says
Great post! I like the "time lapse" photos. Great way to capture the plant growth. Congrats on the Amaryllis bloom!