Plant an Amaryllis Bulb

About six years ago, my mother-in-love gave me a special Christmas gift. The gift consisted of an Amaryllis bulb planted in a pot. No muss, no fuss. It was ready to go.

It appeared to be a very plain gift. The fun of the gift was watching the day to day growth of the plant and the eventual emerging of a beautiful bloom in the Spring.

I am not much of a gardener. I keep it simple. Keeping a plant alive in a pot for several months can be a challenge. With a great deal of practice over the years, my thumb has gradually grown greener.

As a city girl, I am still amazed when the first sprouts of a seed break ground. It is a miracle to see the growth and the final product that a mere seed can produce. Early in our marriage, my husband and I planted several vegetables in a community garden. I was so excited at the first appearance of green springing from the earth.

Six years ago, I began to nurture this pot of dirt. I watered it and found that special spot on the back porch with just the right amount of light. In winter, I protected it from extreme cold. Each year it produced at least one bloom early in Spring.

As the years progressed, the main stem grew longer and longer. Composed of mostly water, the stalk grew to over two feet long last year. It was amazing to see!

Our area has been in a drought this year. My Amaryllis plant seemed to sense the change. Though I watered it to keep it moist, the stalk did not reach its previous height.

With the shorter stalk, the blooms were even more beautiful. The maturing of this plant has produced more blooms with time. As you can see, the product makes the effort worthwhile.

This little plant bloomed for over two weeks. Four weeks later, the final remnants of the stalk have rotted away and disappeared for a season. These gorgeous blooms have been captured in a picture to keep their memory fresh for next season. What will this plant produce next season? Stay tuned.