Down to the wire. If there are last-minute gifts on your holiday list, just say no to the frenzy at the mall. A DIY potted amaryllis bulb is a lovely gift—and you’ll enjoy assembling it. Read on for easy instructions:
Photography by Erin Boyle for Gardenista.
Above: An amaryllis bulb is a lovely thing to give at the holidays because it means a little bit of green come January after the rest of the holiday decorations have been cleared away.
You can give an amaryllis bulb that you’ve potted, or you can provide the bulb and a pot so a recipient can plant it (timed with holiday travel plans because no one wants to be out of town when the flowers emerge!).
Materials
- Amaryllis bulb
- Terra cotta pot and saucer
- Ribbon
- Greenery (optional)
Instructions:
Look for a large, sturdy bulb that shows no sign of rot. As a general rule of thumb, the bigger the bulb, the larger the bloom. An amaryllis bulb doesn’t mind being slightly root-bound, but you’ll want to provide a large enough pot to give the roots room to grow. Choose a pot that’s at least 6 inches wide (or has at least an inch or two of space between the bulb and the side of the pot).
To wrap the gift, tuck a few sprigs of greenery around the bulb to make it stand up straight, and finish with a ribbon tied around the pot and saucer to make a neat package.
Above: Include a tag with potting instructions: Moisten potting soil before planting. Fill the bottom half of this pot with potting soil and place the bulb on top. Fill the pot around the bulb with soil, leaving the top ⅓ of the bulb exposed. Water. Place in a sunny spot. Enjoy blooms in from 6 to 8 weeks. (If you want to ensure that the bulb gets planted, include a small bag of potting soil, too.)
Above: For another last-minute DIY holiday gift, see DIY Gift: Orange and Clove Pomander.
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