How to Care for Amaryllis Bulbs After Blooming
After the brilliant bloom of the amaryllis, the focus of care should shift to the rejuvenation management of the bulbs. Plants that have gone through the peak bloom period are like marathon runners who need scientific conditioning after sprinting. Reasonable water and fertilizer management and environmental control are directly related to the quality of reblooming the following year. Mastering these four core steps can help your amaryllis bulbs quickly return to a plump state.
Precise Pruning and Care Starting Point
Dealing with the remnants of the flowers should be done in stages: immediately cut off the top remnants of the flower stems after the flowers fade, leaving the green flower stalks for photosynthesis. When the flower stalk naturally turns yellow to two-thirds, cut obliquely from the base at 3cm with scissors that have been sterilized with alcohol to avoid sap backflow that can cause rot. The retained stem will continue to channel nutrients back to the bulb, a key detail often overlooked by many flower enthusiasts.
The Golden Rule of Nutrient Supplementation
Precise Application of Organic Fertilizer
Begin supplementing with fully fermented sheep manure fertilizer 7-10 days after blooming, diluted at a ratio of 1:15 and watered along the edge of the pot. Add phosphorus and potassium slow-release fertilizer granules monthly, buried shallowly on the surface of the potting soil with 5-8 granules, continuing to supply nutrients until late autumn.
Foliar Nutrition Enhancement Program
Alternate weekly applications of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (1500 times dilution) and chelated calcium fertilizer, spraying in the evening to ensure the leaves are evenly covered on both sides. This three-dimensional supplementation can increase the hardness of the bulb's outer layer, preventing mold during storage.
Smart Water Control Care Secret
Use the "dry-wet" version 2.0: wait until the soil 3cm deep is dry, then slowly pour water close to the pot edge with a long-spouted pot. During high summer temperatures, combine with the immersion pot method, controlling the water level to one-third the height of the pot, soak for 10 minutes and then immediately drain the water to ensure deep watering while avoiding root rot.
Building a Three-Dimensional Ventilation System
Create a small air circulation environment: use a raised flower stand with a grid and pair it with an oscillating fan that runs for 2 hours daily. During the rainy season, use the "sandwich" protection method - place volcanic stones as a water-resistant layer at the bottom of the pot, use pine bark mulch in the middle layer, and set up a rainproof shed at the top. Filter 30% of the sunlight with a sunshade net during the brightest periods to maintain the leaves' ability to continuously produce nutrients.
From precise pruning to environmental control, each step affects the energy storage efficiency of the amaryllis bulbs. It has been found that enthusiasts who strictly follow this care plan have bulbs that increase in circumference by an average of 1.5-2cm, with more plump bulb layers. Different varieties may require slight adjustments to management details, with double-petaled varieties needing additional calcium fertilizer and native species requiring a slightly longer water control period.