Today we're putting my amaryllis into dormancy so they'll rebloom next year. Dormancy allows us to control when an amaryllis will rebloom. Here's how I treat my amaryllis collection yearround. In winter after blooming remove the flowers and stalks to within an inch the bulb. If you grew the bulb in water rather than soil, transplant it into a pot with a drainage hole, leaving the top half of the bulb above the soil surface. After the bulb has flowered, it will send out 3 to 6 long, straplike leaves. As with other flower bulbs, amaryllis use their leaves to produce energy for next year’s flowers. During this time it's important for the plant to receive plenty of light. Grow your amaryllis like a houseplant for the rest of winter and spring. After danger of frost has passed, you can move the pot outside for the summer. Continue to water. In late summer or early fall, stop watering and move the potted bulb to a cool (50 55°F), dry, dark location. A basement is ideal. The leaves will gradually wither as the plant goes dormant. Leave the bulb alone and don’t water it.

After your amaryllis has been in dormancy for 23 months you can bring them upstairs to rebloom. There’s no rush, so if you have several bulbs you may want to start them at different times. Repot the bulb using fresh growing mix or top off the pot with new soil. Water once and move the pot into a bright, warm room. Water sparingly until the bulb is in active growth.