Hippeastrum ‘Royal Red’ - Red potted lily (Amaryllis)

The house lily, also known as Hippeastrum, Amaryllis, room lily, Knight's Star, is incredibly easy to care for and comes in amazing colors, from pure white to pink, salmon, and red.
Amaryllis are bulbs from the Hippeastrum genus, native to tropical and subtropical areas of America. Some species grow in dry rock crevices; others grow in high regions that have cold weather for most of the year.

Caring for an amaryllis (Hippeastrum) bulb in a pot is relatively simple but requires following certain steps to ensure healthy growth and spectacular blooming. Here is a detailed guide on how to care for an amaryllis bulb in a pot:

• Light - Once the flower stalk begins to grow, move the plant to a place where it receives plenty of natural light, but avoid direct sunlight that can burn the leaves.
• Watering - Once the plant starts to grow and form the flower stalk, you can increase the watering frequency, but make sure the soil dries slightly between waterings. Keep the soil lightly moist. After flowering, as the leaves begin to dry, gradually reduce watering, then stop completely during the resting period (summer).
• Temperature - Amaryllis prefers temperatures of 18-24°C. Avoid exposure to temperatures below 10°C, especially during the active growth period. After the flowers have wilted, the plant can be kept at lower temperatures, but keep the pot in a dry and cool place (10-15°C) during the resting phase.
• Fertilizing: When the leaves and flower stalk develop, apply a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 or 20-20-20) once every two weeks. This helps support the growth and development of the flowers. After flowering continue to fertilize the plant lightly, once a month, after the flowers have dried, to help the bulbs store energy for the next blooming cycle.

Care after flowering

• Cutting flower stalks: After the flowers have wilted, cut the flower stalk about 2-3 cm above the bulb. Let the leaves grow, as they will help restore the bulb for next year’s blooming.
• Watering and fertilizing: Continue to water moderately and fertilize the plant until the leaves begin to wilt, signaling the start of the resting period.

Resting phase

After the leaves have dried, the bulbs must enter a resting phase to bloom again:

• Reducing watering: After the leaves have completely dried, stop watering. The bulbs should be kept in a dry and cool place (10-15°C), away from strong light.
• Duration of rest: The resting phase should last about 2-3 months. After this period, the bulb can be replanted and the growth cycle begins again.

Replanting

• Each year, after the resting phase, it is recommended to replant the bulb. If you do not want to replant it annually, at least change the top layer of soil.
• Check the health of the bulb and remove any dead roots or damaged parts before replanting.

Height including pot: 15-25 cm
Pot diameter: 12 cm