Holiday blooms need to be planted soon

‘Tis the season to start thinking about decking the halls with holiday décor, which may include some of the season’s most colorful flowers. Kansas State University horticulture expert Matt McKernan has advice for those wanting amaryllis blooms for the holidays. The popular holiday plant takes approximately 4-8 weeks to bloom from the time the dormant bulb is planted, typically in a pot. “Now is the time to start amaryllis if you wish to have them in bloom for Christmas,” McKernan said. When and how to pot amaryllis bulbs Amaryllis bulbs, genus name Hippeastrum, are ready to bloom when purchased. Hippeastrum means “horse star,” which is an appropriate name since this plant can produce blooms as large as 8-10 inches across. “Amaryllis bulbs can be huge — approaching the size of a grapefruit,” McKernan said. “The larger the bulb, the larger the flowers and the more expensive the bulb.” Despite its size, this plant prefers tight quarters.

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