I am sure this is answered somewhere here but I could not find it. I am getting ready to move to a new home and want to take some of my potted amaryllis bulbs but I don't want to pay to move pots and soil so I need to dry them out so I can only take the bulbs. Years ago I used to turn the pots on their sides and let the soil dry and the foliage eventually dried off. Is this still a preferred method or is there a better way?

I usually just put them on my covered porch too keep the moisture out, when the soil has dried out they go in a cool dark area. They dry out fairly quickly.

Thanks Rj, same thought, good to know.

With all the rain we are having now in FL, you have to get them under cover and out of direct sunlight. It will take a while to die back since the bulbs are full of moisture and the air is still so humid. I wouldn't even take the bulbs out of the pots until you are ready to move. In 9A it is difficult to safely store dormant bulbs out of the soil, since we don't have cool basements and storing them in the refrigerator is problematic at best. Good luck and Best Wishes with the move.

Thanks Barbara, I do plan to let them dry in the pots.

i live in climate similar to Florida, I leave them in the pots all year around. In winter, when we have temperatures below 40 F at night they might loose some leaves, but I do not care. as long as no frost, they will survive as long as not overwatered.

Is it too late for me to do anything to my bulbs? I rarely fertilized so I know they won't bloom this year but the foliage is still long and green and I'm still watering. Should I go ahead and cut foliage off? Stop watering?

Anne, It is much too late for you to force these bulbs for a Xmas bloom. You would have needed to start the process in August. Your bulbs may or may not bloom at their natural time in April-May next year. Did you have more leaves during the summer? From this photo I see only 2 leaves/pot. The old wives statement was that 3 leaves were necessary to make enough sugar to create a bloom bud at the basal plate this season to bloom next season. I'm live in Zone 9a. I don't force dormancy at all. I don't water from now until new growth appears, but they still get rain and half day sun. My pots have plenty of vigorous leaves right now. I protect them from our occasional frosts with freeze cloth. With 3 pots you can certainly bring them into your garage or house when temperatures are below 35 degrees. My outdoor Amaryllis finally die back naturally in late January and new growth starts up again about two weeks later, as day length starts to increase. If you want them to bloom a bit earlier inside, Put them in a dry, dark location now, to get them to die back now. After eight weeks, cut off the dead foliage, repot and put on sunny windowsill, water once and see if you get new growth. That is only going to push up the bloom by maybe a month. It is not uncommon for bulbs not to bloom every year. Next year fertilize them with a bulb fertilizer several times in the summer to encourage new leaves. Your bulbs look very healthy which is a real plus for trying to get them to rebloom. Good luck and let us know how they look next summer.

Ok, thanks! Yes I had more foliage during the winter. I have so much on my plate, plus summer was killer heat so I had trouble keeping up with everything including my poor bulbs that don't really deserve me.

This past summer was bad all around, many of us had trouble keeping out gardens going.

ardesia said: This past summer was bad all around, many of us had trouble keeping out gardens going.

I hope 2024 will prove better for everyone!

I found in my bulbs that you need them at least about inch and half in diameter to bloom , and you cannot force them, it is always in the end of winter, about end of March-start of April.
I also found, that in a local weather it seems the be better to keep them in the sun only during the morning (up to 11-12 .00) and then in the shade for the hot period of the day. Also you need to fertilize them a lot with mostly nitrogen rich fertilizer (I use Urea granules as fertilizer) .

I haven't even done anything yet to my bulbs, I'm so busy and today I'm under the weather. There change of first frost next week but I can put my bulbs indoors if I don't get to them before then.

We had our first freeze last night, and first snow. My bulbs are still out - the ground has not frozen yet, but I will be bringing them all in this weekend, then down to the basement.

cwhitt said: We had our first freeze last night, and first snow. My bulbs are still out - the ground has not frozen yet, but I will be bringing them all in this weekend, then down to the basement.

here winter is not coming, still about 90F in the middle of the day, no rain in sight

In zone 6b I pull the Hippeastrum bulbs out of the pots or let the soil completely dry out by late july or sept for storage. Allow the leaves to yellow which feeds the bulbs for next blooming cycle then remove any time placed in an open container until the next cycle of bloom.

In late Oct. Nov. replant bulbs 3/4 of the bulb above the soil line in slightly damp soil. Place in a warm area 70', with indirect bright light. At the first sign of leaf growth lightly water the bulb taking care the soil is light and drains well. Always empty the saucer to prevent root rot. 8-12 weeks for blooms. Plant in succession for holiday blooms thru Jan.

I never fertilize my bulbs . That is an option choice.

bumplbea said: In zone 6b I pull the Hippeastrum bulbs out of the pots or let the soil completely dry out by late july or sept for storage. Allow the leaves to yellow which feeds the bulbs for next blooming cycle then remove any time placed in an open container until the next cycle of bloom.
In late Oct. Nov. replant bulbs 3/4 of the bulb above the soil line in slightly damp soil. Place in a warm area 70', with indirect bright light. At the first sign of leaf growth lightly water the bulb taking care the soil is light and drains well. Always empty the saucer to prevent root rot. 8-12 weeks for blooms. Plant in succession for holiday blooms thru Jan.
I never fertilize my bulbs . That is an option choice.

I did intend to pull them up much earlier, but time got away from me. Some are in the ground, but I also have two pots. Hopefully I can get to it tonight.