Every year, it seems like I have a never ending list of things I want to grow. For years, I’ve wanted to try my hand at planting amaryllis bulbs and growing them indoors during the winter. While I’m no stranger to forcing flower bulbs, I’ll admit that I’ve avoided amaryllis – mainly due to the price tag. 
Over the course of this growing season, I made it a point to budget better in my garden. Instead of buying a much needed new pair of jeans, I bought some amaryllis bulbs. I know, right? My priorities are either “all messed up” or “totally in-line”. It really just depends on perspective, I guess. 
Anyway, when I was making my order from Longfield Gardens this season, I chose two very different amaryllis types. The first one the picked is called ‘Bolero’. Though it is red and kind of plain looking, I was initially attracted to the fact that it is said to bloom in time for the holidays. This will work out perfectly, as I will most likely give the plant as a gift. 
The other variety that I bought was one called ‘Sweet Nymph’. You’ll notice that this bulb was huge compared to the other amaryllis bulb. It turns out that I had actually ordered two completely different sized bulbs. I should probably pay more attention to what I’m doing. Oh well, a larger bulb just means that I’ll have bigger flowers! I certainly won’t complain about that. 
Though you can force these bulbs in water, I decided that I would pot mine up with soil. I simply grabbed a terra cotta pot that was about 1-2 inches larger than the bulb itself. I filled the pot half-way up with potting soil, then placed the bulb on top. I added additional soil to fill the pot, but made certain not to cover the bulb more than half. 
I really appreciated that Longfield included these information pamphlets. As a first time grower, I’m really eager to see the blooms! After making sure the pot was adequately moist, I moved it to warm table in my house near a window. As soon as I see growth emerge, I plan on moving it to a bright and sunny window. Don’t forget to water the bulb, as needed. Have you ever grown amaryllis before? I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments below! I hope you’re having an amazing day!
