Amaryllis are one of the most popular flowers you’ll find around the holidays but most people think of them as a potted bulb plant and only available in white or red colors; Amaryllis are so much more than that! They are also beautiful as a cut flower and come in a wide range of colors and varieties (including unique cybister amaryllis and nymph (double bloom) amaryllis varieties).
Fresh cut amaryllis are not difficult to care for and a few stems simply arranged in a vase creates an easy and stunning decoration. We share our fresh cut amaryllis care and handling tips so you know how to maximize your enjoyment of these gorgeous blooms:
Amaryllis arrive in bud form
The beauty of fresh cut amaryllis is that you don’t have to wait for the plant to grow a bloom! Fresh cut amaryllis are shipped in bud form so you get to see the magic of the blooming process that typically takes only a few days.
They’ll arrive carefully wrapped and don’t be alarmed if you see a little splitting of the stems. Amaryllis have hollow stems and so some splitting is normal.
Quickly cut and place the amaryllis in water
Amaryllis stems can be quite large and difficult to trim with floral shears, so we recommend using a sharp knife to cut the stems at a diagonal. Avoid using a dull knife because it can end up crushing rather than cutting the stems!
You’ll want to cut enough of the stem off so that the amaryllis are supported in the vase you plan to use. A good rule of thumb is the vase should be at least two-thirds the height of your cut stem. Since amaryllis stems can be quite long, you may need to cut as much as 8” to 10” or more if you’re using a shorter vase.
As soon as you cut the amaryllis, immediately place the stem in at least 4” to 5” of clean water. A lukewarm temperature is great for the initial hydration, but room temperate would also be fine.
Allow amaryllis to bloom in the right spot
The best vase you would want to put your vase on the trumpet in a cool place, away from direct sunlight and any heated vents or heating appliances.
The flowering rate varies from species to species, so you look like some flowers start to open in an hour, while others may take a few days. Note that flowers are usually also opened in a stem at a different rate, which helps to prolong your enjoyment of flowers! Just pruning Laohua they start to wither as you shine for new flowers!
It’s normal to see stems curl
As amaryllis hydrate and mature, the stems may start to split and curl up from the bottom. If you regularly cut and change the water every 2-3 days, this will help minimize the splitting and curling. In the picture below, we purposefully did not trim the stems to show how this looks. You can also see some pink areas at the base of the stem and that is bacteria collecting on the stem. This will affect the vase life of your amaryllis and that’s why we recommend a regular cut and change of water!
If you need to keep your stems long or irregularly pruning the stems for some reason, then you can wrap them by packing to prevent splitting of the stems with tapes (clear that the waterproofing is the best, but definitely the packaging tapes are also applicable). Just do not cover the bottom of the stem, otherwise you will prevent the flowers from water. It is a good step to follow to keep your stem looking neat and clear when the vase is visible.
When to get amaryllis delivered for a wedding or event
In our opinion, amaryllis are underused for weddings and events! They can really create a statement and they look gorgeous in bouquets and centerpieces. If you are planning to use amaryllis for a wedding or event, make sure to get it delivered 3-4 days before your event date. You’ll want a few days for the amaryllis to hydrate and open up.
Getting amaryllis to open faster
If you need your amaryllis blooms to open faster, cut the stems down as short as possible for your needs (shorter stem means less distance for water to travel up to the bloom). Place the flowers in lukewarm water in a bright spot (but not in direct sunlight).
Avoid a pollen mess
As an amaryllis blossom opens, you will see anther pollen of the stamens, just like lilies. Dictyped flower pollen stains do not look like lilies, but in order to avoid confusion, just gently take off the yellow anther and avoid the problem!
We hope you find these fresh-cut amaranth health and treatment suggestions very useful and look at our Trumpet page to see all the variety and colors we offer. Red and white colors can be used almost year and winter to provide the best choice of color and variety.
