Double Amaryllis Bulb – Red Hippeastrum, 24/26cm Bulb, Indoor Houseplant

Overview

Introduce a touch of spectacular beauty to your indoor space with the exquisite double amaryllis bulb. This premium hippeastrum bulb promises a stunning display, featuring magnificent deep red double blooms that create an unforgettable focal point. Perfect for brightening your home during the cold winter months, this Amaryllis variety is known for its impressive size and prolific flowering. Each bulb is capable of producing multiple flower stalks, with each stem often bearing several wide, trumpet-shaped flowers that can reach up to 8 inches in diameter. This makes it an ideal choice for both seasoned gardeners and those new to cultivating flowering bulbs, offering a rewarding and relatively easy growing experience.

Often referred to by its botanical name, Hippeastrum, the Amaryllis is a tropical plant cherished for its dramatic floral show. This particular variety, known for its double petals and rich red hue, is a favorite for windowsills and conservatories. It offers a unique opportunity to enjoy vibrant, tropical blooms indoors, providing a stark and beautiful contrast to the winter landscape outside. The ease with which these bulbs can be forced into bloom makes them a popular choice for gifts and holiday decorations.

Key Benefits

Cultivating a double amaryllis bulb offers a multitude of benefits, from enhancing your home’s aesthetics to providing a rewarding gardening experience:

• Spectacular Indoor Display: Enjoy large, dramatic, deep red double blooms that create an immediate visual impact, perfect for decorating your home during the winter and early spring.
• Easy to Force: This Amaryllis bulb is excellent for forcing, allowing you to control its bloom time for special occasions or to simply enjoy its beauty when desired. Blooms typically appear 6-8 weeks after planting.
• Multiple Blooms Per Stalk: Each robust flower stalk can bear several impressive trumpet-shaped flowers, ensuring a full and abundant floral show from your red amaryllis.
• Long-Lasting Flowers: The beautiful double blooms offer a prolonged period of enjoyment, gracing your home with their vibrant color and elegant form.
• Wonderful Gift Idea: An Amaryllis bulb makes a thoughtful and unique gift for gardening enthusiasts or anyone who appreciates the beauty of living plants, offering a promise of future blooms.
• Low Maintenance: Once planted and established, this hippeastrum bulb requires minimal ongoing care, making it suitable for busy individuals.
• Impressive Size: With flowers reaching up to 8 inches across and plants growing to about 18 inches tall, this Amaryllis commands attention and adds significant presence to any room.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your double amaryllis bulb is straightforward, especially when grown indoors. To ensure a successful bloom, plant your bulb in a pot that is only slightly larger than the bulb itself, leaving about one-third of the bulb exposed above the soil line. Use a good quality, well-draining potting mix. After planting, water thoroughly, then allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out before watering again. Overwatering is a common mistake and can lead to bulb rot. This indoor amaryllis thrives in a sunny spot, ideally receiving at least 4-6 hours of bright, indirect light daily. A south-facing window is often ideal.

Maintain a minimum temperature of 13°C (55°F) for optimal growth; typical household temperatures are usually sufficient. Once the plant begins to grow and produce flower stalks, you can fertilize every few weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. After the blooms fade, cut the flower stalk back to about an inch above the bulb, but allow the foliage to continue growing. This helps the bulb store energy for next year’s blooms. During this period, continue to water and fertilize regularly. For reblooming, allow the bulb to go dormant by withholding water and fertilizer in late summer or early fall, storing it in a cool, dark place for 8-10 weeks before restarting the watering cycle.

Ensure adequate drainage by choosing a pot with drainage holes. While generally robust, watch out for common houseplant pests like spider mites or mealybugs, especially in dry conditions. Prompt treatment with insecticidal soap can manage these issues. By following these simple care instructions, your amaryllis malaga will provide years of stunning floral displays.

Size & Details

This premium double amaryllis bulb is a substantial size, measuring 24/26cm in circumference, indicating a mature and robust bulb capable of producing multiple impressive blooms. When fully grown, the plant typically reaches a height of approximately 45cm (18 inches) and can spread up to 30cm (12 inches), making it a significant presence on a windowsill or tabletop. The bulb is shipped ready to plant and is specifically chosen for its ability to produce up to three flower stalks, with each stalk bearing several magnificent deep red double blooms. You can expect to see these sensational wide trumpet-shaped flowers, each up to 20cm (8 inches) across, within 6-8 weeks of planting. This red amaryllis offers a truly grand display, becoming a stunning focal point in any room.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this double amaryllis bulb get? A: The plant typically grows to about 18 inches (45cm) tall with a spread of 12 inches (30cm). The bulb itself is a large 24/26cm circumference, ensuring a strong bloom.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This hippeastrum bulb is best grown as an indoor houseplant or in a heated conservatory, especially for colder climates, as it requires a minimum temperature of 13°C (55°F).
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: Your indoor amaryllis thrives in a sunny spot, ideally receiving bright, indirect light for at least 4-6 hours daily. A south-facing window is often suitable.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, Amaryllis bulbs are relatively easy to care for, especially when forced indoors. They require minimal attention once planted and appreciate consistent watering without over-saturation.
• Q: What condition will the bulb arrive in? A: The bulb will arrive in a healthy, dormant state, ready for planting to begin its growth cycle. It is carefully prepared for transit.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: You can typically expect your double amaryllis bulb to bloom within 6-8 weeks after planting, depending on environmental conditions.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this amaryllis? A: For indoor forcing, you can plant your Amaryllis bulb from late fall through early spring to enjoy winter and spring blooms.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone if planted outdoors? A: This tropical Hippeastrum is not hardy in most outdoor zones in the US. It requires a minimum temperature of 13°C (55°F) and is best protected indoors during cold weather.
• Q: What is the optimal soil type for this red amaryllis? A: A well-draining potting mix is essential for growing your red amaryllis to prevent bulb rot.
• Q: How often should I water my amaryllis? A: Water thoroughly after planting, then allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out completely before watering again. Reduce watering during dormancy.