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.
Caryn says
When pulling the bulbs out from dormancy, and watering….do you fertilize too?
Amy Andrychowicz says
No. Wait to fertilize your amaryllis bulbs until after they are done blooming. Then feed them regularly through the spring and summer. That will help them build up enough energy to bloom again after dormancy. My detailed care instructions will give you more info… How To Care For An Amaryllis.
Jeanette Evans says
Hi i enjoyed your article and thought I’d try letting my amaryllis go dormant. I pulled off the dirt and roots from the base of the leaves and found no bulb! Does that mean there wasnt one when it was first purchased? I think this was an offshoot from an original plant. Will a bulb develop?
Amy Andrychowicz says
The offshoot you removed wasn’t mature enough to form a bulb yet. It can take several years for them to form their own bulbs. Don’t try to force dormancy on your amaryllis offshoot if there’s not a mature bulb, or it will just dry up and die. Just plant it back in the dirt, and give it a few more years to mature.
Vijayalakshmi Sisodia says
I would like to know if the seeds that were formed from my huge red amaryllis lily which have germinated successfully, will be able to survive till they reach the flowering stage.
The seeds were pretty tiny and the bulbs that they have formed after germinating are also so tiny in comparison.
I have successfully transplanted them to a larger pot. Just hope they grow to give those fabulous blooms!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have never tried growing them from seed myself, but I don’t see why they wouldn’t survive long enough to bloom – as long as you give them the proper care that is. 🙂 It will take several years before them bloom though, so don’t force them to go dormant. Keep them growing as houseplants until the bulbs are large enough for flowers.
Cara says
Hi, I’m a new plant Mom and this is my first attempt at forcing dormancy and bringing back an Amaryllis. They’ve been in the cool dark garage in their pots for about 6 weeks now. I took them out yesterday and removed them from their pots. They were so root bound! I carefully freed up the roots and removed all the dirt. Finally my question, the roots are so long, can I trim them back so they’ll fit in the same pot and if so how much root should I leave?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can prune the roots off of your amaryllis bulbs as much as you need to in order to fit them back into the pot. However, keep in mind that they do prefer to be pot-bound. So, there’s no need to remove many of the roots. Here’s a post that has more details about care and potting… How To Care For An Amaryllis Plant.
Dorothy Thistle says
I have an amaryllis plant, it never bloomed, but the leaves itself is beautiful, this plant is one that grew from the mother plant and I don’t think it has a blub. is there a way I can get this to bloom or do I keep the lovely leaves, I’ve had this plant for a number of years. thank you
Amy Andrychowicz says
It takes a few years for a small amaryllis bulb to bloom. So, if it’s not very large, then it’s probably more beneficial to keep it growing as a houseplant during the winter so it can get larger, rather than trying to force it to rebloom. Here’s a detailed post about how to care for them… How To Care For An Amaryllis Plant.
John Radulski says
Yeah! Each of my5 bulbs are showing about 3″ of bright green leaf growth! Thanks for the encouragement.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Woohoo! So happy to hear you were able to successfully regrow your amaryllis bulbs. You’re welcome!
John Radulski says
I put my “spent” amaryllis bulbs in separate pots, labeled them, and put them outside about a week ago (I’m in Zone 7a) in eastern facing area. They were overwintered in bright light indoor spot and watered and had fair amount of foliage, but now it’s gone. Will foliage come back to gain nutrients over summer before I put them in dormant storage, etc. in Fall? More sun? They are moist not soggy. Thanks.
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you move amaryllis plants from being inside all winter to the direct sunlight outside, then it can burn the foliage, and cause it to drop off. That may be what happened here. Yes, I would leave them outside all summer, and hopefully they will start to grow some new leaves to get the energy to rebloom this winter. Good luck!
John Radulski says
Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome! 🙂
Susan says
I just wanted to let you know that waxed Amaryllis do rebloom. You just have to remove all the wax. I replanted mine outdoors. The first year only leaves, but after that blossoms!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Congrats on getting your waxed amaryllis bulb to flower again, that is very exciting! Yes, it is definitely possible for them to rebloom, but many times they won’t. So I like to make sure to leave that disclaimer for people, just so they aren’t too disappointed if they can’t get them to rebloom. Thanks for sharing your experience though, another success! 🙂
Ana Claudia Santos Guimarães de Melo says
olá, morto no Brasil, então qual seria o melhor momento de fazer o adormecimento da Amaryllis?
Amy Andrychowicz says
It depends on when you want it to bloom. If you want amaryllis flowers in time for Christmas/the holidays, then start the dormancy process in mid-August.
Ric Bonnivier says
Oh,my bad
How do I get my amaryllis to bloom twice in the same year?
Once inside in the spring , then again in the garden in the sweet summertime ?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Unfortunately amaryllis bulbs only bloom once per year.
Ric Bonnivier says
Green thumb , IDK, Lucky me,yes when it comes to the amaryllis!
Before the Michigan Frost , I’ll take the bulbs and shake off the dirt ,then wrap em in newspaper
,put bulb in the middle , pull the paper up and loosely tie just above the bulb,place in dark corner of any closet inside , then around the end of march I’ll notice a flower , that’s when I put in pot and enjoy til frost won’t be a issue , then back into the flower bed,repeat.
I got 4 flowers off 1 bulb this year ! Lucky me
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wow, nice job! Thanks for sharing your method for reblooming amaryllis bulbs, that’s fantastic. Sounds so easy! 🙂
Christine says
When my amaryllis Finished blooming I just leave them alone and let the flower die. But at the top of the stock it makes a seed pod. They eventually open up and have black seeds in them. I guess that’s what that is. Any information on this would be helpful. Can I plant those seeds?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you’re correct. Those are the seeds. You certainly can try planting them to see if they will grow for you. Good luck! 🙂
Pam Craig says
I live in Central Texas. I started receiving the traditional red amaryllis for Christmas at least 20 years ago. I just couldn’t throw away that bulb so just planted it in a pot in the back yard.
I may have covered it for the winter but don’t remember. The next Spring I was amazed when the most beautiful bloom arrived. Since then it has made babies I have continued to plant. Then I started to buy a different kind of bulb each Christmas in place of poinsettias which die. Each Spring, usually the end of March, I am greeted by around 20+ amaryllis. .I didn’t know there was any special care. I do water and use organic feed. This is the first year I have purchased the wax-covered bulbs. Bought them at that the end of season for a dollar a piece. After bloomed, I couldn’t just throw them away so pealed off wax, placed bulb in water with some organic feed and shoots began to come up. Will plant and see what happens.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wow, that is fantastic! It sounds like you live in the perfect growing zone for naturally reblooming amaryllis bulbs, lucky you! We have to work a little harder at it up here in the north, LOL! The waxed bulbs might grow just fine for you, it’s definitely worth a try. Good luck!
Steph says
Hey – any tips on getting an amaryllis to rebloom? I have two and one flowers beautifully every year and the other one either produces nice leaves or nothing at all. I don’t do anything different with either of them and I’m in Canada so I do my best temperature-wise.
Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you’re following all the same steps to rebloom your amaryllis, but only one of them flowers, then it could be that the other one isn’t mature enough yet. It may take a few years for your efforts to pay off, but keep treating them the same, and eventually the other one will bloom every year for you too.
Jeanne says
I have accumulated many amaryllis through gifts and also producing babies. Following your instructions I only have maybe 1-2 rebloom each year so I’m ready to throw out the lot (like 20!). How do I know if these are waxed bulbs that don’t rebloom? The leaves are lovely but is there something that is done differently if they don’t bloom when put back out outside in the spring? I do bring them all back in the fall to let them rest in my cool fruit cellar for a few weeks. Discouraged.
Amy Andrychowicz says
If the bulbs were waxed, it would be obvious. There would be a thick layer of wax (sometimes colored or decorated) over the entire bulb.
It can take a few years for a baby amaryllis bulbs to bloom, so it may be that many of yours are immature. I have a couple of tiny ones that have never bloomed, and I’ve had them for about 3 years or so. You may just need to give them more time.
Fertilizer is also very important for reblooming amaryllis bulbs, so make sure you’re feeding them regularly through the summer. Here’s a post with detailed growing instructions that may help… How To Care For An Amaryllis. Good luck!
Veronica says
What’s the maximum temperature for dorm in the garage? I’m in Texas and we can have a real hot garage in the summer.
Amy Andrychowicz says
For dormancy, the temperature should stay below 50F degrees. So it’s probably going to best for you to store your amaryllis bulbs in the fall or early winter when the temps are cooler. I’m guessing it will be way too hot in your garage during the summer.
John Radulski says
It was replied to me on this site to have 35-50 degree F temp for dormancy. I’m going to set a small unused fridge to 40 degrees to control dormancy.
John Radulski says
What is ideal temp for dormancy storage?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Ideally, you should store your dormant amaryllis bulbs in a place where the temperature is between 35-50 degrees Fahrenheit. Be very careful that the temp never gets below freezing.
John Radulski says
Thanks for the quick response! I have an unused mini-fridge in the basement that I’ll start up and set to 40 when the time comes!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!