How to Grow Hippeastrum Bulbs

Hippeastrum, also known as amaryllis or ‘hippies’, produce large, trumpet-shaped flowers that will decorate your garden space beautifully. They’re relatively simple flower bulbs to grow, so they are an excellent choice for beginner and experienced gardeners alike.

With our guide on how to grow hippeastrum bulbs, we’ll cover everything you need to know to have these flowers successfully bloom with colour in your garden. Here, you’ll find tips on each stage of growing hippeastrum bulbs, from planting your bulbs right through to preparing them again for the following season.

Hippeastrum Classification

Family

Amaryllidaceae.

Genus

Hippeastrum.

Hippeastrum Varieties

There are over 90 varieties of Hippeastrum plants, with a further 600+ hybrids and cultivars. At Mr Fothergill’s, some of our most popular varieties include:

• Benfica
• Skyros
• Rilona
• Fairytale
• Festival

How Long Do Hippeastrum Flowers Last?

Once they bloom, your hippeastrum flowers will last between two and three weeks. However, they will return next growing season as perennials and can do so for around 15 to 20 years.

Your hippeastrum bulbs will thrive best when grown in a spot with full sun or partial shade. You should avoid places that experience strong winds, as these flowers are delicate and can be affected by them.

They will also perform best in well-drained soil that has been enriched with either garden compost or well-rotted manure before planting. They will generally thrive in any type of soil, although they may not achieve the same level of success with sandy soil.

Plant your bulbs with the tip pointed upwards, ensuring they are deep enough so that the neck of the bulb sits just above the top of the soil. Plant them with 30cm of space in between each bulb, and water lightly after planting. You can plant them in rows, though they look more natural in a less strict formation.

When to Plant Hippeastrum Bulbs

When you plant your hippeastrum bulbs will depend on the climate within the area you live in, though they are generally planted between winter and spring. You should plant your bulbs as per your climate zone as detailed below:

• Cool Zones - Spring
• Temperate zones - Late Winter to Spring
• Subtropical zones - Late Winter to Early Spring
• Tropical zones - Autumn to Early Winter

How to Plant Hippeastrum Bulbs in Pots

If planting your hippeastrums in pots, the process is fairly similar to planting them in the ground. Plant them in a pot with good drainage that allows for at least 4cm of soil around the bulb. Place your pot in a position that receives a good amount of sun and some shade, and use a high-quality potting mix. Plant them with just the neck of the bulb exposed above the surface, and water sparingly as you would for ground-planted bulbs.

When Do Hippeastrums Flower in Australia?

After planting, your hippeastrums will start blooming from late spring to early summer, typically from October to December, as summer-flowering bulbs.

Watering

Water your hippeastrum bulbs as required, or as the soil begins to dry out. They are tolerant of drought, so be cautious not to water them too frequently. Make sure never to water the bulb's nose; instead, water only the soil.

Feeding

Amaryllis will benefit from being fed a balanced fertiliser with an NPK ratio of 10-10-10 to provide them with the necessary nutrients (learn more about selecting the right fertiliser in our blog). This should be done once every two to three weeks, or as stated in the instructions.

Companion Planting

The process of companion planting is simple yet effective, allowing plants to mutually benefit from one another. This involves planting beneficial plants nearby your main plants to support their growth. There are several types of flowers that we recommend planting alongside your hippeastrums for both aesthetic appeal and growth benefits.

To complement the look of your hippeastrums, growing ranunculus bulbs or dahlia tubers alongside them is worthwhile due to their vibrant and eye-catching appearances. Growing thyme seeds is valuable, as it works as a groundcover for your hippeastrums, minimising the growth of weeds and retaining soil moisture.

Pests and Diseases

Amaryllis is highly resistant to pests and diseases and is a straightforward flower plant to look after, so it generally doesn’t have too many problems in this regard. However, there are one or two things to watch out for:

• Snails or slugs may attack the leaves, but this generally can be tolerated.
• One of the main problems that amaryllis can encounter is red blotch, also known as leaf scorch. This is a disease that appears as red spots on their leaves and can spread if not taken care of. Affected leaves should be removed, and a copper-based fungicide should be applied to reduce the spread.

From planting, your hippeastrum bulbs should take around 5 to 6 weeks to flower. From there, you can leave your hippeastrum to decorate your garden or use them for cut flowers. To achieve this, cut the stems before the flowers open to ensure the longest vase life. They should be cut around an inch above the bulb when the first flower buds have puffed out and are soft.

By feeding them with floral food and keeping the vase’s water fresh, you can display your cut amaryllis for around two weeks or longer!

What to Do With Hippeastrum After Flowering

You can keep your hippeastrum bulbs in the ground for the next season. They’ll last between 15 and 20 years in your garden, making them a very worthwhile investment.

Once the flowers have faded, don’t cut off the leaves right away, as the bulb still needs them to store energy for the next season. Instead, cut off the flower stalk, leaving the leaves in place. Then, continue watering them and feeding lightly for several weeks. Once the leaves have yellowed and naturally died back, reduce watering and allow the bulb to rest.