It may be one of the most beautiful flowers, yet one of the easiest to grow. Master Gardeners at Cornell Cooperative Extension say The Amaryllis is a perfect fit among your holiday decorations.

The Amaryllis, with its 6-10 inch trumpet-shaped flowers on 1-2 ft. stalks, is as much fun to grow as it is beautiful to look at. Blooms can be red, pink, white, salmon, apricot, rose or bicolor. Some varieties have petals with a different color on the edge (called picotee). Much of the fun of growing an amaryllis comes from watching it grow from a bulb. You can purchase amaryllis bulbs already potted from a variety of sources. These bulbs come with planting instructions that should be followed carefully for best results.

When purchasing a bulb, look for large, firm bulbs that are dry with no sign of mold or injury. They prefer to be crowded, so pots should only be about one inch larger than the bulb and provide good drainage. Water regularly and place in a warm, sunny spot. Once it begins to grow, fertilize regularly.  If you already have Amaryllis, the USDA has tips on getting Amaryllis to bloom again.

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