Amaryllis 'White Amadeus'

Where to Plant:

This luxurious indoor bulb produces enormous, fully double, pure white flowers, sometimes with a delicate green throat. It must be grown in a pot indoors. Choose a container that is only a few centimetres wider than the bulb itself, as they perform best when their roots are slightly restricted. For the initial growth phase, a warm and very brightly lit position, such as a windowsill, is essential to encourage a strong, healthy flower spike.

How to Plant:

For flowers during the winter months, you should plant the bulb in the autumn. Use a good quality, well-drained potting compost. When potting, place the bulb so that the top third of it, including the neck, remains exposed above the soil level. After placing the bulb, water it in thoroughly just once. It is then crucial that you do not water it again until you see the first green shoot emerge, as watering a dormant bulb can cause it to rot.

Aftercare:

Once new growth is visible, begin watering regularly, but only when the top layer of compost feels dry to the touch. Feed every two to three weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser as the leaves develop. After the spectacular flowers have faded, cut the thick flower stalk off near the base but allow the long leaves to grow on. Continue to water and feed all summer. In early autumn, stop watering and move the pot to a cool, dark place for about two months to induce a dormant period before starting the cycle again.