There are many ways to make your home more inviting for the holidays, like the usual Christmas lights, trees, wreaths and ornaments.

However, if you gardeners want to really dazzle your guests this year, give them a display of bold and beautiful amaryllis blooms.

Amaryllis is a plant that grows naturally in the tropical regions of Africa and South America. However, you won’t have to tromp through the jungle to acquire bulbs for the occasion. Simply start watching for them now in department stores and garden centers. Local stores usually start stocking the bulbs in the fall. Pick them up right away and get planting them, because they take six to seven weeks to push out their fabulous blooms.

The large blooms, which can reach 6-8 inches wide, sit atop a tall leafless stem. The blooms will last throughout the holidays and may even re-bloom in years to come. They come in a variety of colors including white, pink, a robust red, and a combination thereof. You can plant a single amaryllis in a pot, but they will make a much bigger splash if you plant four or five and group them on a table or stand.

Amaryllis is one of the easier bulbs to force to bloom. The bulbs arrive in the stores “pre-chilled,” which means they’ve received the cold period required to initiate stem growth. And most come in their own pot ready to plant. If not, simply follow these steps:

• Place the bulb in a flower pot (with good drainage) that is one and one-half times larger than the bulb. Amaryllis like to be pot-bound, so don’t worry if it looks crowded. Pack a potting mix around and up the sides of the bulb to within a couple inches of the bulb neck.

• Water the bulb well initially, then let it dry out slightly. Water sparingly until you see stems appear. As the buds and leaves appear, increase your watering. After it starts to bloom, keep the medium relatively moist.

• Place the pot(s) in direct sunlight in a warm room and wait for them to bloom.

Over the next few weeks your amaryllis will send up long, pointed leaves, but then you’ll wonder if it will ever flower! It will, just be patient and keep watering as suggested above. When it does bloom it will do so with a bang, producing a large, beautiful bloom (or two or three); hopefully, just in time for the holidays.

The nice thing about amaryllis is you can get a repeat bloom the following year. After you’ve enjoyed your blooms and they start to fade, usually shortly after New Year’s, follow these steps for next year:

1. When you see the leaves start to sag and yellow, clip off the flower, flower stems and the long leaves, leaving about two inches of foliage above the bulb’s neck.

2. Water and fertilize throughout the summer. The leaves will grow back, which in turn feeds the bulb. This can be done inside or outside. If planting outdoors, you can leave the bulb in the pot, which will discourage insects and critters. However, don’t place them out in the spring before the last frost date and get them inside before the first frost in the fall.

3. By early fall the leaves will start to yellow. At this time, trim the leaves off the bulb, clean up the bulb and place it in the crisper of your refrigerator or a cool cellar. The bulb will have an extensive root system at this time. Leave in the fridge for at least six weeks. Don’t water during this time period.

4. When ready, replant the bulb following the instructions above and you should get another show for your guests.
Some years they may fail to re-bloom. As long as the bulb is still firm, don’t give up on it. You may need to repeat steps 1-3 above. If the bulb gets mushy and you see tiny fungus gnats hovering around, it is time to toss it into the compost pile.

The genus name for the amaryllis is Hippeastrum, and they can grow for 75 years in the wild. The type we purchase in the stores are hybrids.

Look for amaryllis in your local stores (about $8 apiece) or you can order them off the Internet at www.ParkSeed.com/Amaryllis and www.whiteflowerfarm.com.

Neil Moran writes for us from Sault Ste. Marie. Visit his website at www.neilmoran.com.