Okay, so, let’s talk about my little adventure with the Amaryllis ‘Red Lion’ I got a while back. I was really excited ’cause, you know, who doesn’t love those big, showy flowers? This whole thing started when I saw these bulbs at the store, and I just had to have one. They were pretty big, felt solid, so I figured, “Why not?”
First things first, I picked out a pot that seemed just a bit bigger than the bulb itself. I remembered reading somewhere that they like to be a bit snug. Then I grabbed some potting mix—nothing fancy, just your regular, well-draining kind. I made sure the pot had holes at the bottom because I know these guys don’t like sitting in water.
Planting it was a breeze. I put some soil in the pot, nestled the bulb in, and covered it up, leaving about a third of it sticking out above the soil. Gave it a good watering to settle the soil, but not too much, just enough to make it damp.
- Location, location, location, right? I put the pot in a sunny spot in my living room where it gets plenty of light. I live in an area that’s like, zone 9, so it’s pretty warm most of the year. They say these plants like that.
- Waiting was the hardest part. I kept checking on it, making sure the soil didn’t dry out completely. It felt like forever, but then, after about 8 weeks, I saw the first hint of green!
Once it started growing, I watered it whenever the top inch of soil felt dry. And every few weeks, I’d give it a little fertilizer—just some water-soluble stuff I mixed up.
The big moment
Then came the flowers—oh boy, were they something! Big, bright red, just like the picture on the tag. It really brightened up the room. I felt like a proud plant parent, haha.
After the flowers faded, I learned you’re supposed to let the leaves keep growing. So, I kept watering it and letting it soak up the sun. I even put it outside in the garden during the summer, pot and all. Just dug a little hole and set it in there.
Come late summer, I stopped watering it and let the soil dry out. The leaves turned yellow and withered, which I read was normal. I brought it inside, cut off the dead leaves, and stored it in a cool, dark place.
Now, I’m just waiting for it to be time to wake it up again. They say you should let it rest for a few months. It’s like giving it a little winter, even though it doesn’t get that cold here. It’s been an interesting little project, and I’m hoping to see those gorgeous blooms again next year. Fingers crossed!
