Tip #12: Amaryllis
While most home gardeners associate amaryllis strictly with indoor holiday bulb forcing, these phenomenal plants produce truly massive, show-stopping flowers when planted outdoors directly in the ground in warm climate zones or treated as stunning summer patio containers elsewhere. The thick, incredibly sturdy green stalks actively support heavy clusters of magnificent, outward-facing trumpet flowers that individually measure up to eight inches across. Outstanding classic varieties like the deep crimson ‘Red Lion’ or the pink-and-white ‘Apple Blossom’ instantly inject brilliant tropical colors into your ongoing landscaping ideas. To achieve the absolute best blooming results, you must plant the large bulbs in highly porous, rapidly draining soil, intentionally keeping the top third of the bulb exposed entirely above the soil line to prevent devastating crown rot. Provide your outdoor amaryllis with bright, dappled sunlight and consistently allow the top layer of soil to dry slightly between thorough watering sessions.
