Amaryllis - Care Tips

COLORS AND SHAPES OF THE AMARYLLIS

The petals of the amaryllis are very special; they look like beautiful velvet. They are available in white, red, yellow, pink, (salmon) pink, purple, orange and two-tone. Usually there are four to six impressive flowers on the stem. The amaryllis has no leaves, which is why they call her a 'Naked Lady' in the United States.

SYMBOLISM OF THE AMARYLLIS

The amaryllis symbolizes pride and enchanting beauty, and conveys a sense of friendship and affection. Truly a flower to conquer hearts with, from the kitchen table in a bouquet or when you give away a beautiful bunch.

ORIGIN OF THE AMARYLLIS

Our amaryllis is native to South and Central America and the Caribbean and is not actually amaryllis. What we call amaryllis is actually called Hippeastrum. This radiant flower is a descendant of the daffodil family and grows from a bulb. The name Hippeastrum comes from Greek and literally means 'knight star', referring to the star-shaped petals.

CARE TIPS FOR THE AMARYLLIS

• Cut the stems STRAIGHT with a sharp knife.
• Put adhesive tape or a rubber band around the lower part of the stem. This is to prevent the stem from curling.
• You can place a stick in the inside of the Amaryllis to prevent the heavy flower cluster from sagging later on.
• Choose a sturdy glass vase.
• Make sure the vase is clean, fill it with water and use cut flower food for bulb flowers.
• Place the vase in a reasonably cool place, not in a draft or next to the fruit bowl.
• Regularly top up the vase with tap water.