Hi Lynn and Renée. If you grow amaryllis bulbs in a pot, they need to be crowded in order to bloom well. That goes for crinums as well. As I mentioned in the tip, there should be an inch or less space between the bulb and the edge of the pot.
If you grow amaryllis in the ground, you need to convert them to a summer blooming cycle, if you haven't already done so. After they were first grown in a pot to bloom during the winter, plant them outside once there is no chance of frost. They probably won't bloom for you during the first summer. Harvest the bulbs in the fall once frost threatens. Rinse the soil from the bulb, let it dry, and then store it in a cool, dark place (above freezing) for the winter. When you plant it out the next spring, it should bloom for you, given the bulb is large enough to bloom. A good blooming size bulb is about 3" in diameter or larger.
When you plant the bulb in the ground, make sure that it gets plenty of sun during the day. Avoid sites that are continually damp or wet. Plant the bulb so that it is about an inch below the soil level. Note that this is different from planting one in a pot, in which case you need to leave one third of the bulb above soil level. I use regular, run-of-the-mill potting soil for my potted bulbs. If you have a saucer under your pot, make sure that it's not continually full of water. Potted bulbs should be placed where they get plenty of sunshine. If you grow them under lights, the leaves should be quite close to the light source. Don't let any of the leaves or buds touch the light bulb, though, as they will eventually scorch.
Hope this helps. Please be sure to let me know if you have further questions.
