Amaryllis blooms are one of the highlights of my houseplant collection. In this post, I share how I personally store my Amaryllis bulbs. You will find video and images with step by step information on my site.
About the Amaryllis Bulbs
The Amaryllis bulb has a healthy outer skin that looks like paper or shriveled up paper. This outer covering usually is a result of the bulb being stored after harvest. It is all good and natural for the plant. Each type of this plant has a large amount of root at the bottom of the bulb. Be sure to pick a Christmas variety of Amaryllis to ensure you get a bloom during the early winter days. Most of the varieties grown in the Netherlands can take up to 12 weeks to bloom after they’ve been potted.
What You Will Need To Store Amaryllis Bulbs
Perhaps the most important thing needed when storing the bulbs is a cool and dry location. Luckily, I have a basement in our country home that is just perfect to store bulbs and tubers. I guess If we didn’t have a basement I would store in my garage or a room closet that stays around 50*F. I talk more about that space later in this post. Here are items to round up for this project:
- Clean container to put bulb in
- wood chips/ shavings like pet bed liner material
- brown paper bag
- Plastic grocery bag
How to Store The Amaryllis Bulb
After the Christmas or December Holiday season, I usually start my Amaryllis bulbs for indoor enjoyment. Let’s face it, it is just too busy during the last months of the year to start new plants indoors. This means once the bulb is done blooming as we head into late winter and early spring it is time to start storing the spent bulb. I like to move the bulb to a clean garden center style container with enough soil to cover the roots. I then place wood chips around the top of the bulb. The container is placed into a paper bag so it can breathe but not get wet. It is best to store the bulbs at 50*F. A humid location like in a basement is recommended as well.
Thank you for watching the video. You can find my videos on Bren Haas Channel on YouTube.
What The Amaryllis Looks Like After Storage
If you follow the directions listed above you will most get a healthy amaryllis bulb that is ready to be planted when you get it out of storage. The bulbs always have a few extra layers of the ‘skin’ that is like paper. I peal a lot of that off leaving maybe 1-2 layers. Most years when I am able to store the bulb in my basement that stays at a comfortable 50*F the bulb doesn’t get too dry. If the bulb gets dry or too warm it will start sprouting a new bulb.
The bulb in this picture has lots of the skin layer but I can feel the heart of the bulb. Don’t panic! Just peel back some of the layers and go ahead with planting.
Amaryllis Refrigerator Storage
The bulb that has been cleaned can be stored in a cool (40-50 deg. F), dark place such as the crisper of your refrigerator for a minimum of 6 weeks. Note: I have never put my bulbs in a refrigerator. They say that APPLES will effect the bulbs so do not store in the same refrigerator. My Dome Greenhouse during the winter months provides the same type of conditions as a refrigerator so that is what I do!
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Let’s Connect
Do you grow Amaryllis Bulbs? I would love to hear what you thought of this article and if you have any additional tips to share with me and my readers. I appreciate you taking the time to read this post so be sure to comment on my site and tag me on social media links @brenhaas.
Happy Amaryllis Growing,
5 Responses
Hi – Thank you for the article. I don’t have a 50 degree F. basement; can I safely store bulbs in the refrigerator?
If you have a cool storage area in a dark / low light space this would be best. I am not sure how the refrigerator temperature at 37* would treat the bulbs. They need to be stored for at least 8 weeks.
I’ve got 2 bulbs that are ready to be stored so I will run an experiment and see if this works. I am going to pack up the bulbs in clean bedding wood chips and store in one of my cloth white bags. The bulbs will have to be monitored to be sure they don’t get dried out or wet and start to rot. Let’s DO THIS! If I have time between planting in the dome this weekend I will try and do a video featuring what I do for this Amaryllis bulb storing in refrigerator experiment.
STAY TUNED!
I have a Red Lion amaryllis kit from this year (Christmas 2021) that I did not plant. Does it expire? Can I save it still in the box it came in for next year? How long can it be saved before planting the first time? The box has not even been opened.
Obviously I am not experienced at growing any sort of plant. 🙂
Thank you so much for leaving a comment. It took me a few days to get this response ready for you because I did a special blog post just for you! Check out Caring For An Amaryllis Bulb on my website today. You can also find more information about the bulb from my personal experience at: Amaryllis Gardening. I appreciate you taking the time to ask questions today.
I have an amaryllis bulb in wax. I’m letting the foliage die back. Then I will peel the wax off. I plan to store it in a paper sack for the rest of winter. Here’s my question, since amaryllis is a fall bloomer, when should I plant it?