You don’t need to be a botanist to coax flowers into bloom for the holidays.
It’s simple, especially when they’re Hippeastrum bulbs. Although marketed in the winter as amaryllis, most belong to the genus Hippeastrum from South America.
For the largest number of flower clusters, select the largest bulb. Plant it in a well-draining pot, 6-8 weeks before you want the trumpet-shaped flowers to appear. Make sure the upper third of the bulb is peeking above the soil and water sparingly.
Then stake the flower stalk for support, put a bow on it, and voilà! Don’t you wish all your holiday preparations were this easy?