My "Amaryllis Bed" is really a bed of all sorts of mixed bulbs. I've got a lot of the smaller crinums, spider lilies, naked ladies, even a few amorphophallus bulbs in it. This patch was grass a few years ago. I cleared all the grass and added a lot of compost. I mulch heavily with organic mulches, mostly leaves. Throw a little 10-10-10 in once a year & that's it. if we don't have any rain for a couple of weeks, I may water if it's in the middle of summer and really hot. Mostly I just heave the bed alone, except for weeding. The amaryllis are usually planted after the flower stalk has died down, but there are still green leaves. I just plant them at the same level as they were growing, usually with the neck at ground level. I may sprinkle a little fertilizer if I have any on hand. The bed is in full sun, so that helps a lot.
A few years ago, I went crazy over all the cybister amaryllis, including papilio. I really love Chico and La Paz. My biggest problem with these is that, being so close to the sidewalk, the flowers tend to get picked by passerbys.
I do have a few bare spots in the bed, so twice a year I fill those spots in with annuals. Right now, I have pansies for the winter & early spring. I'm looking for a different annual for this summer/fall. Something low growing, can take the hot, humid New Orleans summers, and preferably in the pink/purple color family.
Do you use special soil for them in your "amaryllis bed?" In your zone, do you plant them beneath the soil line? Given there are so many varieties of amaryllis now, do you have a favorite amaryllis?
