A knight's star only shows off its noble flowers if you plant the tuber properly. Since the subtropical winter beauty is at war with excess moisture, special precautions must be taken when planting. Read here how to take the special requirements of an amaryllis into account.
How do I plant an amaryllis bulb correctly?
To properly plant an amaryllis bulb, choose substrate low in humus, a pot 3-4 cm away from the bulb and drainage. Plant the bulb in the center with the tip pointing upwards, leaving half exposed. Water from below and place the plant in bright, but not full sun.
The amaryllis feels at home in this substrate
If you plant your Knight's Star in commercial potting soil, you are doing the plant a disservice. Given its South American origins, the Hippeastrum prefers a low-humus substrate with a high proportion of mineral components. These recipes have proven themselves well in practice:
- One part each of cactus soil (€12.00 at Amazon) and standard soil, optimized with a handful of perlite breathing flakes
- A mix of pricking and potting soil, enriched with lava granules
- Optionally plant in pure coconut fiber substrate
When deciding on the best soil, please consider that a high proportion of humus significantly increases the risk of rot on the tuber.
How to use the amaryllis bulb correctly
Please use a pot in which there is a distance of 3 to 4 cm between the tuber and the edge. Furthermore, the only option is a vessel that has a bottom opening for water drainage. Add some pottery shards or expanded clay balls as drainage, covered by an air and water permeable fleece. How to proceed:
- Fill the flower pot two thirds full with substrate
- Plant the tuber in the middle with the tip pointing upwards
- Fill with soil so that half of the bulb is exposed
Finally, press the substrate firmly and place the knight star in a bright, not full sun location. With pleasant temperatures between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius, the flowering will not take long. Always water an amaryllis from below by pouring the water into the saucer.
Tip
A knight's star thrives wonderfully if you don't plant the tuber in soil at all. To do this, place the onion in a glass so that only the roots are in the water. Supported by a few sticks of brushwood, the majestic inflorescence rises from the dry amaryllis bulb within 6 to 8 weeks.
