Growing amaryllis in water is a fun project, and looks cool too. It’s easy to do, and you can get really creative with it. In this post, I will give you step-by-step instructions for how to plant an amaryllis bulb in water, and share some simple care tips too.
Planting amaryllis in water rather than dirt is a cute way to display them for the holidays, and it’s a really fun DIY project too. They can’t be grown in water forever. But, when done correctly, they will survive long enough to bloom.
Below you’ll learn exactly how to force amaryllis bulbs in water. Plus I’ll give you some simple care tips, and I’ll also discuss the cons of doing it (just in case you decide to change your mind).
If you want to learn all about growing them and keeping them for years to come, then be sure to read my complete amaryllis plant care guide.
Growing Amaryllis In Water
In order to grow amaryllis in water, all you need is an amaryllis bulb, and a couple of items you can find around the house…
Supplies Needed:
- Flower vase or bulb vase
- Decorative pebbles, glass marbles, or rocks
- Bare root amaryllis bulb
- Floral snips or bonsai shears
- Room temperature water
Supplies for planting amaryllis bulbs in water
Steps For Planting An Amaryllis Bulb In Water
This is a super easy project, and only takes about 20 minutes to complete once you have collected all of your supplies. Here are the detailed step-by-step instructions…
Step 1: Choose your vase – Any flower vase you have on hand will work. Or you can buy one that’s specifically made for forcing bulbs in water. Be sure to use one that’s proportionate to the size of the bulb though, you don’t want to go too large.
One that is 5 – 8″ tall is plenty, you don’t need anything too deep. For my project, I used a 6″ tall cylinder vase and a 6″ bulb vase.
Step 2: Choose the pebbles – The pebbles are not only for decoration, but they also help to stabilize the bulb, and hold it up and out of the water. You could use decorative rock or glass marbles rather than pebbles.
For my project I chose to use two kinds of river rock, one is multi-colored rock, and the other is plain black rock (which will look stunning with my red amaryllis flowers!).
If you use a bulb vase, and your bulb can sit on top of the rim, then you won’t need any pebbles (unless you like them for decorative purposes).
Step 3: Trim off any dead roots – Before you grow amaryllis in water, you should check the roots. Use your floral snips to remove any that aren’t firm and white. Dead or damaged roots will decay, and make the water get yucky (and stinky) very quickly.
Trimming dead roots from amaryllis bulbs
Step 4: Rinse dirt off the roots – If the bulb was previously growing in dirt, then you’ll want to rinse any remaining debris and soil off the roots before planting the bulb in water. This will help to keep the water clear and fresh longer too.
Clean bare root amaryllis bulbs before placing in water
Step 5: Position your amaryllis bulb in the vase – Position the bulb in the vase at the level you want it. If your vase is shallow, you can trim the roots a bit to make the bulb sit lower.
If your amaryllis bulb doesn’t have any roots yet, then you can fill the vase with pebbles first (step 6), and place the bulb (pointy side up) on top of the pebbles.
Positioning amaryllis bulb in the vase
Step 6: Add pebbles to your vase – Slowly add your rocks, pebbles or marbles to the vase. If you’re working with a glass vase, take care not to drop them in, or it could break the glass. You might find it easier to tilt the vase sideways so the rocks will slide into the bottom slower.
Rotate the vase as you work to fill it with pebbles so that your bulb stays centered in the vase, and to hide as many of the roots as you can. You can also gently shake the vase so the pebbles will settle evenly.
Adding rocks into the glass vase
Step 7: Fill vase with tepid water – Fill the vase so that the water line is below the bottom of the bulb. The trick to successfully growing amaryllis in water is to make sure the bulb never touches the water.
So, when you fill it up, ensure the bulb is completely above the water line, or it will only rot. And take it from someone who has made this mistake before, a rotting amaryllis bulb does NOT smell good. (GAG!)
Filling the vase with water
Step 8: Place your bulbs in a sunny location – Once your amaryllis is planted in water, move it to a warm, sunny spot, and within a few weeks it should start to grow.
Sometimes the leaves will grow first, and sometimes the flower will. Don’t worry if the leaves start to grow first, that doesn’t mean your amaryllis won’t bloom.
Amaryllis bulb sitting above the water line
How To Care For Amaryllis Bulbs In Water
Caring for an amaryllis growing in water is a bit different than caring for them in soil. Here are some tips for the best success…
- Keep an eye on the water level to make sure it doesn’t evaporate completely, you never want the roots to dry out.
- Try to maintain the water level so it stays just below the bottom of the bulb at all times. Remember, if the bulb is ever left sitting in water, it will rot.
- Make sure to keep the water fresh so that it stays clean. Flush the vase with fresh water once a week for best results.
- When your amaryllis starts to bloom, the flower spike will grow quickly. They tend to reach towards the light, so turn the vase every day in order to keep it growing straight. You could also add a grow light.
Red amaryllis flowers
The Downside Of Forcing Amaryllis Bulbs In Water
Growing amaryllis bulbs in water is a fun project, and can add a lovely dramatic effect to your Christmas or holiday decor, but… there is a downside.
Amaryllis bulbs grown in water will usually need to be thrown out because they won’t grow very well afterward.
However, if the bulb is firm, and isn’t showing any signs of rot after you remove it from the water, then you certainly could try planting it in soil. But it may take a few years of growing it in dirt before your amaryllis will bloom again.
Growing amaryllis in water is a fun project, and can add a unique flair to your holiday decor. With proper care, you will be rewarded with gorgeous blooms in a few short weeks.
Do you strive to grow beautiful houseplants, but struggle keeping them alive through the winter? Then my Winter Houseplant Care eBook is exactly what you need! It will show you everything you need to know in order to keep them thriving year round! Download your copy today!
Products Used For This Project
More Houseplant Care Posts
- How To Grow Indoor Plants: The Ultimate Guide
- How To Save A Rotting Cactus Plant
- Fall Houseplant Care Guide
- How To Melt Snow For Watering Houseplants
Have you ever tried growing amaryllis in water before? Share your tips in the comments section below.
Chydi says
Can i use a vase like this with dirt? Rock on bottom for drainage?
Amy Andrychowicz says
No, definitely do not try to put dirt in the vase with your amaryllis bulb. That will only rot and make the water smell terrible. Only use clean rocks in the water, you want to keep the it clean and clear.
Nancy says
I received a beautiful large pink amaryllis bulb from Holland, which I’m growing in water. GORGEOUS! But now the petals are wilting and the bulb is soft in spots. Can I save it??
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh bummer! Unfortunately, it sounds like your bulb may be rotting. You certainly could try planting it in soil to see if it will recover. However, if the bulb is rotting, then you may not be able to save it. Good luck!
Beth says
I have the same issue; lovely red blooms in water, but now what? I can’t find any info on what to do to transplant my water blooming bulb to a potted one! Can anyone help?
Amy Andrychowicz says
If your amaryllis bulb is firm and healthy, then you could pot it up into soil and keep it growing. You can simply use a general purpose potting soil, and a container that is only slightly larger than the bulb. Be sure to leave 1/3-1/2 of the top of the bulb sticking out above the soil level. If you plant it too deep, it may not flower. Here’s a detailed post with tons more information about potting up and also caring for it… How To Care For An Amaryllis
Jenna says
I received an amaryllis bulb without roots for a gift. How do you suggest I encourage root growth in the water without causing root rot? Thank you for the nice article!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You can follow the same steps for planting an amaryllis bulb in water above, but just place it on top of the rocks for support. Keep the water level just below the bulb. The bulb can bloom even without roots, so there’s not worries if the roots don’t end up growing until after it flowers. Good luck!
Lance says
I’ve tried growing amaryllis and hyacinths in water and they made great roots and the hyacinths had little flowers, but then everything stopped and seemed like started to die. The water turned darker color and is starting to smell. I emptied the water and added fresh, but is there anything I can do to save them? The leave’s of the amaryllis and all the roots are still very alive. Also, is there any problem with combining amaryllis and hyacinth in one container? I have amaryllis in the center surrounded by 3 hyacinths.
Amy Andrychowicz says
There shouldn’t be any problem combining the two types of bulbs in one container. Check to see if they have started rotting, that may be what is cause the water to be dirty and stinky. Amaryllis aren’t meant to grow in water for the long-term. So, if you want to try to save it, then I would pot it up into soil.