The amaryllis, like only a few plants, blooms in winter and delights us with its impressive flowers, especially at Christmas time. Here you will find everything you need to know about amaryllis' cold tolerance and how you can use the temperatures for good growth.
How cold can an amaryllis be?
An amaryllis (knight's star) issensitive to coldandwill goalreadyin light frost During the dormant phase (autumn), the tuber should be stored in the dark at 12 to 15 degrees Celsius. For a longer shelf life, you can refrigerate them at night from December onwards.
Does cold damage the amaryllis?
The amaryllis does not have a high cold tolerance. Frost causes irreparable damage, so the plant can even die. However,even cold draftsthrough a tilted window is enough to harm the plant. This severely limitsits growth and flower formation Especially in the flowering and growth phase (December to August), the amaryllis needs temperatures of at least 16 degrees Celsius, and in summer it can be 24 degrees. During their rest period in September to November it should be between 8 and 12 degrees Celsius.
How do I keep the amaryllis properly cold during the resting phase?
The resting phase is one of the most important vegetation phases for the amaryllis so that it can produce a magnificent flower. To do this, follow these steps:
- From August onwards, stop watering and fertilizing the plant completely.
- Once the leaves have dried, you can remove them.
- Store the tuber (in a pot or loosely, wrapped in newspaper) in a dark and cool place, ideally in the cellar, if necessary in the refrigerator at temperatures between 12 and 15 degrees Celsius.
- Let the tuber rest until November.
When is it worth keeping the amaryllis cooler?
If you want the flowers of your amaryllis to stay fresh longer in the pot or vase, you can, for example,keep them cooler at nightAt 16 to 18 degrees Celsius is the best option here the bedroom or a wind-protected hallway as a suitable place to spend the night. During the dayyou can bring the plant or cut flower in the bouquetback to a warm and bright location in the living room or dining room on the windowsill. Here she is happy about the warming room temperature.
Tip
Be careful of cold damage when buying the amaryllis
When purchasing the amaryllis, you should make sure that the plant is he althy and has no dried out or mushy spots. When transporting it home, you should also pack the plant well to protect it from cold drafts. Even a cold shock from the warm shop to the cold street and back to the warm living room can cause major damage.
