How to care for amaryllis (Hippeastrum)

Hippeastrum · Hippeastrum, Knight's star lily

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) — a large South American bulb (Hippeastrum hybrids, not the South African true amaryllis) that sends up a hollow stalk 45–60 cm tall with two to six trumpet flowers up to 15–25 cm long in red, pink, white or bicolours, followed by long strap-shaped leaves. Amaryllis needs full sun. Water it about every 7 days while it grows and about every 14 days in the winter rest.

Checked against sources: November 5, 2026

Watering and repotting amaryllis through the year

It lives indoors all year, so it has no sowing or planting dates: it grows from March to September and rests from October to February (the other way round in the southern hemisphere).

Repot it about every 36 months.

When to plant amaryllis?

Plant or repot amaryllis in spring, as it starts into growth; early to midsummer also works. It is a houseplant, so it has no outdoor planting date and no frost decides it: just avoid autumn and winter, when growth slows and fresh compost stays wet too long. After that, move it to a slightly larger pot about every three years, or sooner once roots circle the pot or grow through the drainage holes.

Watering in the growing and resting halves of the year: Watering and repotting amaryllis through the year.

Sources: RHS: How to repot a plant · Penn State Extension: Repotting houseplants

Quick facts

Type	Houseplant
Latin name	Hippeastrum
Family	Amaryllidaceae
Also called	Knight's star lily
Light	Full sun
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Repotting	every 36 months
Grown in	At home

Where does amaryllis grow?

10,281 records of the plant in gardens, fields and the wild worldwide; most photos come from Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, United States, and French Guiana.

World map: where amaryllis has been recorded — Darker green means more records. Photos are real observations from those countries — tap one to see it. Map and records: GBIF.org (2026-10-28), © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap. Photo: alex Schlosser, Alejandro Bruno Miranda-Calle, benvancitters, Guillaume Delaitre, 781094223, Varsha Santosh, Thomas Mesaglio, -39934920 (CC BY / CC0).

Amaryllis, Brazil — Darker green means more records. Photos are real observations from those countries — tap one to see it. Map and records: GBIF.org (2026-10-28), © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap. Photo: alex Schlosser, Alejandro Bruno Miranda-Calle, benvancitters, Guillaume Delaitre, 781094223, Varsha Santosh, Thomas Mesaglio, -39934920 (CC BY / CC0).

Amaryllis care by growth stage

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 7 days	—	balanced (NPK), 14 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 44 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 74 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 104 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 134 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 164 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 194 days into the stage
Winter rest	every 14 days	—	—

Growing notes

Light

A bright, sunny spot while it grows; shade the flowers from strong sun to make them last. Outdoors in summer, move it gradually from shade into full sun.

Soil

A well-drained potting mix rich in organic matter, in a pot only a little wider than the bulb, with the top half to two-thirds of the bulb above the surface. Repot every two or three years in late winter after flowering; it flowers well slightly pot-bound.

Care

A new bulb planted from October to January at about 21 °C flowers 6–8 weeks later; water sparingly until growth shows, then keep the mix just moist, never wet, turn the pot so the stalk grows straight and move the plant somewhere cooler (15–18 °C) to make the flowers last. Afterwards cut off the spent stalk but keep the leaves growing in bright light, watering regularly and feeding monthly; it can stand outdoors for the summer after the last frost. To flower again it needs a rest of 8–10 weeks from late September, either cool (about 13 °C) with little water and no feed, or dry in a cool dark place; then bring it back into warmth and light and water again, and it blooms 4–8 weeks later. Red spots and streaks on the stalk and leaves are red blotch, a fungal disease; look out for mealybugs. Toxic to pets if eaten, causing vomiting, drooling and in large amounts a drop in blood pressure and tremors; the bulb is the most dangerous part.

Other plants of the Amaryllidaceae family

Amaryllis belongs to Amaryllidaceae; 10 other plants of this family have a guide here.

Plant lists it is in

What to grow on a windowsill or balcony

Part of: Houseplants · Flowering houseplants · Houseplants for a sunny window · Houseplants you rarely repot

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.