Shop carefully for the best bulbs and buy from the experts
If you want to grow exquisite Hippeastrum blooms for Christmas, here’s how to grow the biggest amaryllis flowers. Firstly, invest in the largest bulbs you can find. The golden rule is that the bigger the bulb, the more blooms it will support.
In the run-up to the festive season, stores that have absolutely no knowledge of selling or looking after plants are full of amaryllis bulbs. Is there any wonder so many of them die after being given as gifts?
Everywhere from Lidl (with houseplants being stored outside in single-digit temperatures) to Marks & Spencer has them in stock, usually in gift box form. This is a bad thing. You can’t see what you’re buying. Open the packaging to make sure they are sound and disease-free – no rot or disease.
How to grow the biggest amaryllis – buy from the experts
My best advice on buying Amaryllis (or Hippeastrum if you want the correct name) is to support your local garden centre. Buy bulbs loose there or from a mail-order specialist. I usually buy from the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, as there is a wealth of experts selling bulbs you’ll struggle to find elsewhere at good prices.
Most bulb specialists have extra-large bulbs which support far more flowers than normal. I once bought a giant Orange Sovereign variety for £15, from Harts Nursery of Congleton, www.hartsnursery.co.uk. It produced many stout stems with massive flower heads.
Here is more information on growing Amaryllis and keeping them from season to season.
