How to Grow Amaryllis Hydroponically

Amaryllis plants grow from bulbs and produce tall, vertical green stalks with large, trumpet-shaped flower blossoms at the top. They are spring- and summer-blooming bulbs, but are also sold frequently as indoor pants during the winter months. Unlike other bulbs, amaryllis can be grown hydroponically. This means that you can skip the soil and simply fill a container with water. The amaryllis bulb will soon sprout roots and begin to flower.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

• Large glass vase or container
• River rocks, 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter
• Amaryllis bulb
• Hand pruners
• Water

1. Fill the bottom of a clear glass vase with 4 inches of river rocks. Use rocks that are approximately 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter.

2. Pick up the amaryllis bulb and look at the bottom roots. Prune off any brown roots near the bottom of the bulb, using hand pruners. These roots are from the previous year and will not grow. Do not prune roots that are white.

3. Set the amaryllis bulb in the vase and push it down by 1/4 inch into the river rocks. Place additional rocks around the bulb if desired, but one-third of the bulb should remain exposed. If the bulb doesn’t have any roots, the pointed end of the bulb should face upward.

4. Fill the container with water until the level reaches 1 inch above the bottom of the amaryllis bulb.

5. Place the container in a location that receives bright, indirect sunlight and maintains a temperature between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep it there until flowers appear, usually in three to eight weeks.

6. Move the pot to an area that maintains a temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit after blooms appear to make them last longer.

Tips & Warnings

• Don’t let the amaryllis bulb sit directly in water, as it will rot.