Plants of the genus Amaryllis are known as belladonna lily, Jersey lily, naked lady, amarillo, Easter lily in Southern Australia or, in South Africa, March lily due to its propensity to flower around March. However, they are only distantly related to the true lily, Lilium.

Amaryllidaceae

Narcissus is a genus of predominantly spring flowering perennial plants of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. Various common names including daffodil, narcissus and jonquil are used to describe all or some members of the genus.

onion, (Allium cepa), herbaceous biennial plant in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), grown for its edible bulb. The onion is likely native to southwestern Asia but is now grown throughout the world, chiefly in the temperate zones.

Amaryllis

The Amaryllidaceae are mainly terrestrial (rarely aquatic) flowering plants that are herbaceous or succulent geophytes (occasionally epiphytes) that are perennial, with the exception of four species.

To store the bare bulb, carefully lift the bulb out of the soil and brush off the soil. Store the bulb in a paper bag or a box with peat, sawdust or perlite. Allow the pot, or the bulb to remain in that cool place — without watering for at least six weeks, usually 8 to 10 weeks.

Did you know that amaryllis will grow happily in water? It’s true, and with suitable care of amaryllis in water, the plant will even bloom abundantly. Of course, the bulbs cannot remain in this environment long term, but it’s a great way to enjoy the showy flowers over winter when all else looks dreary.

Although amaryllis are typically only sold around the holidays, they can be grown successfully year-round and bloom again as long as they receive proper care.

How many years will an amaryllis bulb bloom? With proper care, an amaryllis bulb will grow and bloom for decades. One grower claims his bulb has bloomed every year for 75 years!

Amaryllis plants (Hippeastrum sp.) have toxin primarily in the bulb but also the leaves and stem. During the holiday season many plants, cut flowers and flowering bulbs are used as decoration and given as gifts. Many of these items can be poisonous to both humans and pets with long-term negative effects to ones health.

You can grow virtually any bulb in containers, and you can mix different types of bulbs together, too. In fact, it’s a lot like growing bulbs in the ground. If you want to leave your bulbs outdoors all winter, select a large container that will hold enough soil to insulate the bulbs.

Your layered planting can all be topped off with a few winter flowering pansies or violas so that you have immediate and lasting colour. They will bloom until the first bulbs start to bloom in late January and will continue to bloom with the bulbs too.

You may keep the bulbs in pots after flowering, but it is a good idea to introduce some new soil with all its nutrients and fertilize again. You may also remove the bulbs, let them air dry and put them in a paper bag in a location with the proper chilling requirements until you are ready to force them again.

A pot is a cramped and stressed environment for your flower bulbs so to keep your them happy, it’s important to get the watering right. However, don’t allow the pot to stand in a pool of water. Over the winter, check that soil in your pots is moist and water weekly – except when the soil is frozen.

A: The best way to overwinter tulips planted in containers is in an unheated garage, where bulbs are chilled enough to break dormancy, yet are protected from repeated freezing and thawing. You also can submerge entire containers directly into garden soil.

Put the potted plants in a cool and sunny location and keep the soil moist, but not soggy, at all times. Grow the leaves as a houseplant for as long as they stay green. When the leaves dry out and die off, dig up the bulbs and store them in a paper bag in a cool, dark place until fall.

When to plant bulbs

• Plant spring-flowering bulbs, such as daffodils, crocus and hyacinths, preferably by the end of September.
• Plant tulips in November.
• Plant hardy summer-flowering bulbs, such as lilies, alliums and crocosmia, in September and October.