Amaryllis is a great holiday gift. This blooming bulb gives a wonderful display all season for its blooms do last a long time.

This is a genus of about 80 species found in Central and South America in a range of habitats. Many large flowered hybrids have been bred for cultivation in containers.

If you are starting a bulb from scratch, count back from when you would like to see the bloom - about 6-8 weeks. Mid-October would be good. Plant the bulb in a six inch or eight inch pot with the shoulder of the bulb above the soil level. Place in good bright light but not full sun. Water thoroughly initially then sparingly until growth begins. Allow the pot to dry slightly between waterings. By doing this the root system will be stimulated. Using a clay pot will anchor and stabilize the often top-heavy growth. You may have to stake the stem.

After the season let the bloom normally die back then cut the stem(s) near the top of the bulb. Do not water and let the bulb go dormant. You can summer outside for larger bulb growth.

To achieve another holiday blooming season continue the entire steps again. Do repot in new soil to replenish nutrients. Probably by mid September, let the bulb go dormant from the summer. Essentially you will be forcing the bulb once again.

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A: I assume that you are talking about Amaryllis that you have force bloomed for Christmas. After the season let the bloom normally die back then cut the stem(s) near the top of the bulb. Do not water and let the bulb go dormant. You can summer outside for larger bulb growth.

The "A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants" says that bulbs that have been forced into bloom should be planted in the garden once spring arrives or allowed to go dormant in their pots and then planted out in autumn. They will not force well again.

Do not water for at least two months during dormancy.

To try to get them started again, just follow the instructions that you bought with them again starting in, say, mid-October or go to our Amaryllis page.