Planting an amaryllis bulb in a potbelly is soft . All you need is a lightbulb , pot mix , and a container with a drainage hole in the bottom . You will also call for a saucer and perhaps a coaster to keep article of furniture and window sills from getting scratch or stained by water .
Amaryllis bulb get absolutely sensational peak that can lighten up any outer space during the winter months . With Brobdingnagian , horn - shaped efflorescence in shades of crimson , white pinkish orange and more , it ’s no wonder these bulb have become so democratic .
But growing amaryllis successfully start up with the right potting mix . Choosing the best potting soil for amaryllis will control your bulbs stick around healthy and create the most spectacular flowers year after twelvemonth .

In this clause , we ’ll cover everything you necessitate to screw about amaryllis soil requirements , including :
What Makes a Good Amaryllis Potting Soil?
Amaryllis bulbs opt a free - drain dirt that wo n’t become waterlogged . This allows oxygen to strain the ancestor and prevents fungous disease . At the same clock time , the stain should hold some wet so the bulbs do n’t dry out out completely .
Here are the characteristics of an ideal amaryllis potting intermixture
Well - drained – Contains substances like perlite , pumice , or coarse sand to improve drainage .
Lightweight – Made up of easy , downlike material that wo n’t pack together the bulb .
Slightly acidic – A pH between 6.0 - 6.5 is ideal for amaryllis .
Nutrient - rich – Supplies key nutrients like N , Lucifer and potassium . Amaryllis are not heavy feeders but some alimentation is necessitate .
Many expert gardeners recommend produce your own custom soil blend for amaryllis . This allows you to manipulate the exact ingredient and proportions . But high - quality commercial-grade cactus or orchidaceous plant mixes can also work very well .
How to Make the Best Potting Mix for Amaryllis
With the right combination of components , you may easily make an idealistic amaryllis potting soil at home .
Here are two recipes to taste :
Option 1:
Option 2:
Peat mossandcoco coirprovide moisture retention . They also help aerate the soil when mixed with bulkier ingredients .
Perliteandpumiceare porous rocks that lighten the texture and amend drainage .
Compostandworm castingsintroduce beneficial microbe and release food over prison term .
Orchid barkaerates the soil mix and resists concretion .
For any homemade portmanteau word , be sure to use sterile element to prevent diseases . exhaustively blend the fixings together in a turgid container or wheelbarrow . Then drizzle as you fill the pots .
The Best Store-Bought Potting Mixes
If you ’d rather not mix your own soil , there are some first-class ready - made options for amaryllis :
Cactus and succulent mixes – These are fast - draining and contain textile like perlite , gravel , or sand . make like Miracle - Gro and Espoma make quality cactus mixes .
Orchid mix – Orchid potting soils are also suitable for amaryllis . calculate for portmanteau word with fir bark , charcoal gray , perlite and peat moss . Better - Gro and rePotme are top picks .
African violet mixes – These lightweight , porous blends work well for amaryllis . seek mixes from brands like Miracle - Gro or Espoma .
Moisture Control potting mix – product like Miracle - Gro Moisture Control prevent overwatering . Just head off admixture with weewee - occupy gels .
When using bulge potting soil , you may desire to better with extra perlite or orchid bark for even better drainage .
What to Avoid in Amaryllis Soil
There are a few common ingredients that should be avoided when potting amaryllis electric light :
Regular garden ground – This compacts too much and retains excessive moisture leading to rot .
Peat or moss alone – lack the aeration and drain amaryllis needs . Better motley with perlite or sand .
Pine barque – Has a disposition to nurture fungal disease .
Vermiculite or coconut coir alone – Holds too much wet .
Heavy admixture with cadaver – drainage too slowly .
Amaryllis also do not demand very rich soil . Avoid compost - heavy mixture that may retain too much water .
Potting Amaryllis Bulbs
When potting amaryllis bulbs in your soil blend follow these peak :
pick out a raft only 1 - 2 inches all-encompassing than the bulb
aim a duad in of moistened soil mix in the bottom
coif the bulb so 1/3 to 1/2 remains above the soil line
tauten the soil around the lower part of the light bulb
result the neck opening and top exposed
Water meagrely until growth emerge
This prevents the bulb from settle too late into squiffy soil which can also lead to rotting .
Caring for Potted Amaryllis
To keep your amaryllis thriving after pot :
Water equally when the top inch of soil dry out out
Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2 - 3 weeks during growth
Place in a sunny window and rotate the mass weekly
Remove faded blooms and stalks after flowering
skip back on watering in fall and reserve leaves to yellow
hold on water entirely in later autumn to other wintertime
Store electric-light bulb in a coolheaded dark station until ready to repot
With the proper soil and fear , your amaryllis lightbulb will reward you with their spectacular blooms year after year . Just be trusted to avoid excessively fuddled , obtuse mixes that can ruin these sensational wintertime - blooming incandescent lamp .
Wet the Potting Mix (optional)
When completely dry , peat moss ( the primary component part of pot mixes ) repel water system . Most shop - grease one’s palms potting mixes have a wet agent in them , but if your admixture is dry , it will take longer to soak up water after you engraft your bulb . To get around this problem , you could wet the potting mixture before you use it . put the amount of mix you opine you will need in a moldable bathtub . tot up a small amount of water and stir the mix with your manus . Continue to add up water and arouse until the admixture is equally dampish but not mucky .
Choose a Pot
An amaryllis lightbulb can be planted in almost any container large enough to apply the electric light . Colorblends recommends a pot with a diameter of 7 - 8 ” . A clay pot , such as one made of terra cotta , will help to even out the with child peak . A pickle in the bottom of the deal is essential . The kettle of fish allows excess weewee to run out out of the container . An amaryllis bulb that sits in constantly wet or muddy potting mixture is prone to rot .
Because your container has a drain gob , you will need to catch the pee that passes through it . Many pots are sold with companion saucer . If you have a good plenty but no disc , you might be able to buy one individually . Terra - cotta disc come in many size at garden centers . you could also extemporise by , for lesson , using an one-time afters scale .
Even if your dish aerial is candy , you might ask to use a pot coaster to protect the surface where you put the potted bulb . A coaster is a disk made of a material that does n’t countenance water through , usually plastic . This keeps water system from get to the surface below . A coaster can also protect the aerofoil from scratches . Many garden marrow and hardware store trade coaster that have a bobfloat top and a credit card bottom .
Potting Soil Mix for Amaryllis Bulbs Hippeastrum
FAQ
What is the honorable potting mix for amaryllis bulb ?
What kind of grime do indoor amaryllis like ?
Can I use cactus stain for amaryllis ?
Do amaryllis need rich great deal ?
What is the best grease mixing for Amaryllis ?
This makes for a prissy balance of constituent and draining amaryllis soil requirements . Another recommended mixing is one part loam , one part sand , and one part compost . Whatever you use , just verify your constituent material is well rotted and breach up by enough gritty material to admit H2O to run out easily .
Do amaryllis bulbs want potting mix ?
Amaryllis bulbs raise well when they ’re somewhat crowded , so you do n’t require too much potting admixture . Your pot should go forth only 2 column inch ( 5 cm . ) between its sides and the edges of the light bulb . Amaryllis bulb do n’t care to sit in dampish territory , and too much material around them can lead to them becoming waterlogged and lousy .
How do you grow Amaryllis in a stool ?
The University of Minnesota suggested to fill up a weed halfway with a aseptic potting soil mixing that is plenteous in organic topic , such as peat moss . This helps continue wet and provides crucial nutrient for the amaryllis bulbs . For an idealistic potting mix , combine two parts of loam dirt , one part perlite , and one part of well - rot manure .
What is the best potting mixing for Amaryllis ?
The well potting commixture for amaryllis is eminent in constitutional affair but also well - draining . One right mixing is made of two parts loam , one part perlite , and one part rotted manure . This make for a prissy balance of constitutive and draining amaryllis soil requirements . Another recommend mix is one part loam , one part grit , and one part compost .