Growing waxed amaryllis bulbs is pretty simple: open package, place plant on surface, watch as it grows a little bit each day and ultimately explodes into vibrant blooms.
I’ve grown amaryllis bulbs in previous years. The kits that come with a disk of potting media and a planter are lovely gifts at Christmas and super easy to assemble: soak the potting media in water, place in planter, insert bulb and then place in bright indirect light until it blooms.
Waxed Amaryllis Bulbs
A few years ago, I started seeing waxed amaryllis bulbs for sale. The colorful wax seals the bulbs and lets you grow the flower without any soil media. In early December, my friends at Garden Media Group sent me a pair of waxed amaryllis bulbs. I placed them in a dish on my counter and waited for the show. I didn’t have to wait long, a little more than a month later, on January 12, the blooms opened.
The amaryllis show continued throughout the winter, with multiple stems emerging and putting forth blooms. I didn’t offer them a drop of water, in fact, the only care required was trimming the spent stalks.
Planting Waxed Amaryllis Bulbs Outdoors
Because I live in the cooler part of amaryllis’ hardiness area, I decided to give the bulbs a chance at a second life in my garden. I’m in metro Atlanta, hardiness zone 8a, and amaryllis can come back given the right conditions, a suitable microclimate and a not-too-brutal winter. Fingers crossed this will work.
The wax coating was simple to remove. Here are the step-by-step photos:
Some glitter remained on the bulb, but I don’t think it’s a big problem. It will just was away. I plan to cover the bulb with mulch to protect it through our blistering summer heat (they like heat, so that’s not a problem) and again in winter. Maybe next spring, I’ll be able to report that amaryllis are blooming in my garden beds.
And I’m definitely ordering waxed amaryllis bulbs to give as holiday gifts (and keep for myself) this year.
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Have you had any luck growing waxed amaryllis bulbs? I’d love to hear about your experiences. Let’s talk about gardening and more on Instagram and Facebook. Look forward to hearing from you!
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