How to Cut Amaryllis Flower

The amaryllis is a lovely, vibrant flower, boasting colors of pink, red, and even orange, that grows from a large bulb. Usually, these flowers are planted outdoors or in a pot, but you can also cut them and display them in a vase. Whether you’re interested in creating arrangements for a special event or simply want to enjoy this beautiful flower from the comfort of your home, you can easily harvest them with a bit of care.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Cutting the Flower from the Bulb

1. Snip flowers away from the bulb before they bloom for long-lasting enjoyment. Once the stem opens up and you see multiple buds, but before they’ve actually started to open up, it is the prime time to snip them away. They’ll have a much longer vase-life this way.^[1]
   
   • With the proper care, cut amaryllis can last for up to 3 weeks in a vase.
2. Support the stem with your hand as you cut it so that it doesn’t break. Once you cut away the flower from the bloom, the weight of the buds could bend the stem and break it. Gently hold the stem underneath the buds so it doesn’t topple over after being cut.^[2]
   
   • The inside of the stem is hollow, so it’s very delicate.
3. Make your cut at a 45-degree angle above the bulb. Use either a sharp, clean knife or a pair of scissors to cut. Be careful to only cut the stem of the flower you want to harvest to avoid injuring the other ones.^[3]
   
   • If you notice sap coming out of the bulb, that’s normal and doesn’t mean that you injured the bulb.

[Edit]Caring for Cut Amaryllis

1. Put the freshly-cut flowers in a vase filled with room-temperature water. For now, don’t worry about trimming the stems to the right size for the vase you’re using—it’s most important to get the newly-cut stems into water as soon as possible.^[4]
   
   • The only exception to the rule here is if the stem is too long for the vase and the amaryllis is at risk of breaking because it’s so top-heavy. If this is the case, go ahead and trim the stem so that it can rest safely in the vase.
   • Make sure the vase you’re using is clean and dust-free. If you have a minute, you may want to give it a quick wash with dish soap just to make sure it’s completely free of any unwanted bacteria.
2. Leave the flowers in a cool, shaded place for 3-4 hours. This restorative time helps the amaryllis adjust to the shock of being removed from the bulb. Put it in a dark room or bathroom with the lights turned off.^[5]
   
   • For even better longevity, move your amaryllis to a cool location every night before you go to bed. Too much heat or humidity can cause the petals to wilt prematurely.
3. Trim the stem and move the flowers to their final destination. After the flowers have had some time to rest, you can go ahead and trim the stem so that it’s the right height for the vase you’re using. Cut it at a 45-degree angle, and place the vase in a room that is ideally around .^[6]
   
   • Because of the top-heaviness of amaryllis, try to leave just of stem above the rim of the vase.
4. Stir a packet of flower food into the vase. You can buy pre-mixed packets of flower food from any florist. Simply cut open the plastic, pour the contents into the vase, and gently shake the water around to help it disperse.^[7]
   
   • Flower food can help balance the pH level in the water, eliminate mold-causing bacteria, and add needed sugar to help feed your blooms.
   • When you buy flowers from the store or florist, the bouquets come with a packet of flower food. You could always ask for an extra one and save it at home for when you have your own freshly cut flowers to display.
5. Keep the vase out of direct sunlight and change the water every 3-5 days. Direct light and excessive heat will wilt your flowers quickly and can sap the color. To change the water, remove the flowers from the vase and hold them in one hand. With the other, dump out the old water and fill the vase with fresh room-temperature water.^[8]
   
   • When you change the water, add more flower food if you have it.

[Edit]Creating a Beautiful Arrangement

1. Choose a vase that can support the weight of the amaryllis. Amaryllis tend to be very top-heavy, so a light, thin vase might topple over under its weight. If you want to keep the stems long, use a tall vase with a heavy bottom. If you want to cut the stems short, a squat, broad vase will work best.^[9]
   
   • If you’re concerned about the vase staying upright, you could fill the bottom with of small stones or rocks for added weight.
2. Use a clear or translucent vase to display the vibrant, green stem. Because the stem is so thick and the flower itself so large and colorful, a clear, minimalist vase will look the best. If you use a colored vase, look for one that is just lightly tinted so that the stem is still visible through it.^[10]
   
   • If you prefer a bright, colorful vase, or perhaps a solid white vase, that’s totally fine, too. Do whatever makes you happy to look at your flowers each day.
3. Add a few filler flowers if you want a fuller looking arrangement. The amaryllis can shine on its own, but there’s nothing wrong with adding a little bit of greenery to your arrangement. Stay away from filler flowers that have colorful blooms and instead focus on ones that are primarily green or white, like fern, ivy, baby’s breath, eucalyptus, bells-of-Ireland, or ragwort.^[11]
   
   • If you’re worried about the flowers staying in place, use floral tape to make a grid over the vase’s opening. Simply put the flowers through a specific hole to position them.^[12]
4. Trim off dead blooms to keep your arrangement looking fresh. As your flowers age and fade, you can revive your arrangement by pruning the parts that no longer look vibrant. The amaryllis most likely had several buds, but they probably didn’t all flower at the same rate. If one of them has started to wilt and fade but the others still look good, just cut off the one that is past its prime.^[13]
   
   • Always use a clean knife or pair of scissors to avoid introducing bacteria to the flowers.
   • When cared for, each bloom can last for about 3 weeks.

[Edit]Tips

• Don’t throw away the bulb after you’ve cut away the flowers! It’ll bloom again and grow new stems as it heals.^[14]
• Always use a clean vase for your cut flowers. Giving the vase a quick wash with warm water and dish soap will ensure there are no bacteria that could infect your blooms.^[15]
• Place a flower stick inside the stem to provide extra support for the weight of the stem and bloom.^[16]

[Edit]Warnings

• The amaryllis will die if it’s left outdoors in cold weather. If it’s cold enough to frost, it’s too cold for your beautiful plant to be left outside.^[17]

[Edit]Things You’ll Need

[Edit]Cutting the Flower from the Bulb

• Sharp, clean knife or scissors

[Edit]Caring for Cut Amaryllis

• Sharp, clean knife or scissors
• Vase
• Flower food

[Edit]Creating a Beautiful Arrangement

• Vase
• Filler flowers
• Sharp, clean knife or scissors

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.hortmag.com/plants/make-amaryllis-flowers-last-longer
2. ↑ https://youtu.be/Gdr-lLY3AeA?t=67
3. ↑ https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2009/1-7/amaryllis.html/
4. ↑ https://blog-yard-garden-news.extension.umn.edu/2019/02/new-video-cut-above-prolonging-life-of.html
5. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=668
6. ↑ https://www.hortmag.com/plants/make-amaryllis-flowers-last-longer
7. ↑ https://blog-yard-garden-news.extension.umn.edu/2019/02/new-video-cut-above-prolonging-life-of.html
8. ↑ https://blog-yard-garden-news.extension.umn.edu/2019/02/new-video-cut-above-prolonging-life-of.html
9. ↑ https://blog-yard-garden-news.extension.umn.edu/2019/02/new-video-cut-above-prolonging-life-of.html
10. ↑ https://blog-yard-garden-news.extension.umn.edu/2019/02/new-video-cut-above-prolonging-life-of.html
11. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/decorating/home-accessories/flower-arranging/how-to-make-a-flower-arrangement/
12. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/decorating/home-accessories/flower-arranging/how-to-make-a-flower-arrangement/
13. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/how-to-cut-flower-bouquets/
14. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/houseplants/amaryllis#control-blooming-858665
15. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=668
16. ↑ https://youtu.be/Gdr-lLY3AeA?t=104
17. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/houseplants/amaryllis#move-plants-outdoors-858664

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