How to Store an Amaryllis Bulb

Because blooming again is part of its nature — and yours

Amaryllis bulbs are known for their spectacular blooms, but what many people don’t realize is that with proper care, they can bloom again year after year. Knowing how to store amaryllis bulbs correctly allows the plant to rest, restore energy, and prepare for its next season of growth. At Gardenuity, we love this part of the cycle most — because it reminds us that rest is not the end of growth, it’s where growth begins.

An amaryllis bulb teaches us something most of us forget.

Blooming is not the end of the story.

Rest is.

Each winter, amaryllis bulbs give us something extraordinary — tall stems, impossible flowers, color when we need it most. And then, just as suddenly, the blooms fade. What’s left behind can look unremarkable. A thick bulb. A few strappy leaves. Nothing dramatic.

But inside, everything that matters is still happening.

If you know how to store an amaryllis bulb properly, it will bloom again. Not because you forced it. Because you honored its cycle.

Here’s how.

Step 1: Let the Leaves Grow (This Is Where Next Year’s Blooms Begin)

After your amaryllis finishes blooming, resist the urge to cut everything back.

Those long green leaves are not messy—they are essential.

They are actively collecting sunlight and converting it into energy that the bulb stores for next year’s flowers.

What to do:

• Cut off the spent flower stalk near the top of the bulb
• Continue watering as usual
• Place the plant in bright, indirect sunlight
• Let the leaves grow freely through spring and summer

Think of this as the bulb’s recovery and strengthening phase.

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Step 2: Stop Watering and Allow the Bulb to Rest

In early fall, typically September or October, it’s time to help your bulb transition into dormancy.

This rest period is what triggers future blooming.

Here’s how:

• Stop watering completely
• Allow the leaves to naturally turn yellow and die back
• Once dry, trim the leaves to about 1 inch above the bulb

This signals to the bulb that it’s time to sleep.

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Step 3: Remove and Prepare the Bulb for Storage

Once the foliage has died back, carefully remove the bulb from its pot.

Prepare it for storage by:

• Gently brushing off excess soil
• Leaving roots intact if possible
• Making sure the bulb is dry
• Avoiding washing it with water

You want the bulb clean—but dry.

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Step 4: Store in a Cool, Dark, Dry Place

Amaryllis bulbs need 8–10 weeks of dormancy in the right conditions.

Ideal storage conditions:

• Temperature: 50–60°F
• Location: Closet, basement, or garage
• Container: Paper bag, cardboard box, or open tray
• Environment: Dry and dark

Avoid plastic bags, which can trap moisture and cause rot.

This rest period is not optional. It’s what makes reblooming possible.

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Step 5: Wake Your Bulb Up When You’re Ready to Bloom Again

When you’re ready—usually in late fall or early winter—bring your bulb out of storage.

To restart growth:

• Replant in fresh potting soil
• Position the top third of the bulb above the soil line
• Place in bright light
• Water lightly at first

Within weeks, you’ll see new growth emerge.

And soon after, flowers.

A Note About Wax-Dipped Amaryllis

Wax-dipped amaryllis bulbs are designed to bloom without water or soil, making them beautifully simple and accessible. Because of that, they don’t always rebloom the same way traditionally planted bulbs do.

But their purpose is something else entirely.

They remind us how little it takes to grow something extraordinary.

And sometimes, that’s enough.

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Why We Save Amaryllis Bulbs

We save amaryllis bulbs because they remind us that growth isn’t constant.

It’s cyclical.

There are seasons when everything is visible. And seasons when nothing is.

Both matter.

Both are necessary.

And when the bloom returns — as it so often does — it feels earned.

Not just by the bulb.

But by you.

Saving an amaryllis bulb is an act of optimism — a quiet belief that something beautiful is already preparing to bloom again

If you’ve never saved an amaryllis bulb before, this is the year to try. And if you’re new to amaryllis entirely, there’s nothing quite like watching one bloom for the very first time.