Amaryllis Bulbs Make the Perfect Holiday Gift: How to Give & Grow Amaryllis for Christmas

There is something especially meaningful about giving a gift that isn't finished when the wrapping paper comes off.

An amaryllis bulb may not look particularly glamorous at first. But tuck it into a pretty pot, give it a little warmth and light, and something magical begins to happen.

First, a green shoot appears. Then a tall flower stalk. Finally, spectacular blooms begin to open—often during the darkest part of winter, when flowers somehow feel even more special.

That's one of the reasons we love amaryllis bulbs as Christmas gifts at Blue Buddha Farm.

Instead of simply giving someone another thing, you're giving them something to plant, watch, anticipate and eventually enjoy in full bloom.

Shop Blue Buddha Farm Amaryllis Bulbs →

Why Amaryllis Bulbs Make Wonderful Christmas Gifts

Fresh flowers are always lovely to receive, but eventually a bouquet fades.

An amaryllis is different.

Part of the gift is the experience of growing the flower yourself. Once planted, there is something new to watch as the bulb wakes up, the stalk grows taller and those first buds begin to form.

Then comes the payoff: enormous, show-stopping flowers that can brighten a kitchen counter, dining table, office or windowsill.

Even better, amaryllis are surprisingly easy to grow indoors.

That makes them a wonderful gift for experienced gardeners—and for the person who insists they can't grow anything.

The Perfect Gift for the Person Who Has Everything

We all have someone on our Christmas list who is nearly impossible to shop for.

They don't need another candle.

They have enough coffee mugs.

And another gift card doesn't feel quite personal enough.

An amaryllis bulb is different.

It makes a thoughtful Christmas gift for mothers and grandmothers, teachers, neighbors, hostesses, coworkers, gardeners, flower lovers and faraway friends.

It's also a beautiful alternative to the traditional holiday poinsettia.

And because there are so many different colors and flower forms available, you can choose a variety that actually reminds you of the person receiving it.

How Long Does an Amaryllis Take to Bloom?

This is one of the questions we hear most often around the holidays.

Amaryllis commonly bloom within approximately 6–10 weeks after planting, although individual varieties and growing conditions can affect the timing.

Rather than thinking of an amaryllis as a flower that must open precisely on Christmas morning, we like to think of it as a holiday-season experience.

The recipient gets to enjoy watching it grow throughout winter—and sometimes the most welcome flowers are the ones that appear after the Christmas decorations have come down.

How to Plant an Amaryllis Bulb

One of the best things about giving amaryllis is that the recipient doesn't need to be an experienced gardener.

Choose a sturdy container with good drainage that is only slightly larger than the bulb.

Fill the container with a well-draining potting mix and position the bulb so approximately the upper third of the bulb remains above the soil line.

Water after planting and place the pot somewhere warm with plenty of bright light.

Once the flower stalk begins growing, rotate the container periodically to encourage straighter growth.

Then comes the hardest part:

Waiting.

But that's also part of the fun.

One Important Amaryllis Tip: Don't Love It Too Much

If there's one amaryllis-growing mistake we'd like to help you avoid, it's overwatering.

More water doesn't mean more flowers.

Amaryllis bulbs already store a remarkable amount of energy inside themselves. Constantly saturated soil can encourage rot, so allow the soil to begin drying between waterings rather than keeping it continually wet.

Once your bulb begins actively growing, continue watering as needed while avoiding soggy soil.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for an amaryllis is simply give it a little time.

Which Amaryllis Makes the Best Christmas Gift?

This may be our favorite part.

Christmas amaryllis aren't limited to traditional red anymore. Today's varieties include elegant whites, romantic pinks, unusual greens, candy stripes, coral shades and extraordinary double flowers.

For someone who loves traditional Christmas colors, choose a rich red or red-and-white variety.

For someone whose home is soft, feminine and romantic, look for blush, coral or pink.

For the minimalist, an elegant white amaryllis is hard to beat.

And for the flower collector—the person who already seems to grow everything—choose one of the more unusual specialty varieties.

The best choice doesn't necessarily have to be the most traditional one.

Choose the flower that makes you think:

“That's so her.”

Or him, of course.

See All Amaryllis Varieties at Blue Buddha Farm →

Turn an Amaryllis Bulb Into a Beautiful Holiday Gift

You don't need elaborate packaging to turn an amaryllis bulb into something special.

Place the bulb in a pretty container or gift box and pair it with potting mix and simple growing instructions. Finish it with ribbon or twine and a handwritten tag.

On the tag, write:

A little something beautiful to grow this winter.

That's it.

Simple, beautiful and personal.

For a hostess gift, you could even plant the bulb ahead of time in a decorative pot. Instead of arriving with another bottle of wine, you arrive with something your host will get to watch grow for weeks.

Can You Keep an Amaryllis After It Blooms?

Yes—and this may be one of the nicest things about giving an amaryllis.

After flowering, remove the spent flower stalk, but don't immediately remove the green leaves.

Those leaves continue photosynthesizing and help replenish the bulb after it has used so much stored energy producing its spectacular flowers.

With appropriate care, an amaryllis bulb can be grown and enjoyed again.

That means the bulb you give someone this Christmas could potentially become part of their holiday traditions for years to come.

And that's where an ordinary flower bulb starts becoming something much more meaningful.

A Christmas Gift That Keeps Growing

Some gifts are opened and forgotten.

Others become memories.

There's something wonderful about handing someone an ordinary-looking bulb and knowing that several weeks later, perhaps long after the wrapping paper and Christmas decorations have disappeared, it will suddenly burst into bloom.

Maybe they'll send you a picture when the first flower opens.

Maybe they'll grow it again next year.

And maybe someday they'll see an amaryllis blooming and think of you.

That's one of the things we've always loved most about flowers.

They connect us to people, seasons, places and memories.

This Christmas, consider giving someone a flower they get to watch come to life.

Shop the Blue Buddha Farm Amaryllis Collection →

Blue Buddha Farm
Flowers for the Soul.