How to Give a Potted Amaryllis
with
Keith Dunlop
Don't know what to give the person who has everything? Treat them to a potted amaryllis. This gift is simple to arrange and offers gorgeous blooms.
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Transcript: How to Give a Potted Amaryllis
Hi, I'm Keith Dunlop, and welcome to About.com. Today I'm going to show you how to make a thoughtful gift that's great for the holidays, but also appreciated any time of year.Supplies Needed for a Potted Amaryllis
To create a potted amaryllis, you will need:- one amaryllis bulb, available in most home and garden stores and from online seed or gardening companies
- one medium-sized pot
- tape
- about 1 pound of potting soil
- about 3 feet of ribbon
- a bow
Select an Amaryllis Bulb
The amaryllis is the heavyweight champion of the flowering bulb family. The bulbs themselves can be huge.You'll want to choose one that will fit inside your pot, with plenty of room to spare for soil. And when they bloom, they produce tremendous, trumpet-like flowers in a multitude of different colors.
Choose the Potting Soil
After you've selected your bulb, the key is to purchase the right kind of soil. When you buy your potting soil, make sure to choose one that has a high phosphorus content.A higher level of phosphorus will encourage the plant to bloom, which is key for this kind of plant, since the blooms are so spectacular.
Look at the bag and it will list the nutritional information -- just like wheat flakes or frozen pizza -- except here it will be a series of three numbers that show the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the mix.
You'll want to go with a high second number -- the phosphorus -- which I've done here. Notice the phosphorus is a higher percentage than the nitrogen and potassium.
Cover the Bottom of the Pot
Creating this gift is very simple. Basically, what we're going to do is plant this amaryllis bulb into this pot, and then use the saucer as a lid to keep it all contained.To make sure that all the soil stays in the pot, we have to cover the hole in the bottom of the pot first. So take your tape and just cover up the hole like this. You will want to mention to whoever receives this gift that they should take the tape off.
Add the Potting Soil and Amaryllis Bulb
Next, we'll place about an inch or so of soil in the bottom of the pot. You may need to go with less, depending on the size of your bulb.Check this by resting your bulb on top of the soil. If you can't see the top of your bulb when you look across the top of your pot, you're all set.
Fill the Pot With Soil
Fill in around your bulb with soil until the bulb is almost entirely covered. Now invert the saucer over the pot. You might want to subtly tape it to the pot, so the lid stays put. Then use your ribbon to decorate the package.Directions for Repotting the Amaryllis Bulb
Be sure to mention to whoever you give this to that the bulb should first be soaked in warm water for an hour, then repotted and positioned so that it rests about halfway under the soil and about halfway above.It doesn't have to be precise, but your amaryllis prefers being a little above ground. And the way we've planted it is only so that we could cover it up with the lid.
And there you have it, a living gift that will produce awe-inspiring blossoms in the middle of winter. Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us at About.com.