In December of 2020, I went to a local Fred Meyer store and saw it was selling amaryllis bulbs that were encased in wax to preserve moisture and put in Christmas socks. I bought one of those. I had had many amaryllis bulbs over the years, but for the exception of two bulbs, I could never get them to bloom again. Part of this was living in a guest house in Reno, where I couldn’t get the bulbs enough light outside without risking the bulbs being stolen. Part of it was not having the knowledge of how to bring them back into bloom year after year.
Upon research, I realized I needed to have the bulbs outside getting plenty of daylight after the threat of frost passed (in Oregon, around May). Exposing the bulbs to plenty of sunlight gives the energy to be able to generate. I was able to bring one of the bulbs I bought two years ago back.
I also did research about the wax-encased bulbs. Some “experts” claimed the plants were designed to be thrown out and could not be brought back into bloom, while others said just peel off the wax casing and plant the bulb in potting soil as usual. I decided with this bulb I would do the latter and take a chance. The first time it bloomed the flowers were gorgeous and large. Last September, this plant bloomed again. Like the first time it bloomed, it was a single stalk with large red blooms. Now in May of 2022, I have a THIRD blooming of this plant. From what I have read, amaryllis bulbs can live for decades, with some claiming their plants have bloomed every year for 50 or 75 years. I doubt I will be around that long to know, but I do know this particular amaryllis is the best one I ever had.
Here are pictures I took today of the plant with all four flowers in full bloom:
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