Soil for Amaryllis Plants
Amaryllis bulbs grow best when they’re slightly crowded, so you don’t need too much potting mix. Your pot should leave only two inches (5 cm.) between its sides and the edges of the bulb. Amaryllis bulbs don’t like to sit in damp soil, and too much material around them can lead to them becoming waterlogged and rotten. A good soil for amaryllis plants is well-draining. You can use nothing but peat as the soil for amaryllis plants, but keep in mind that peat is hard to rehydrate once it dries out.
What Kind of Soil Does Amaryllis Need?
The best potting mix for amaryllis is high in organic matter but also well-draining.
One good mix is made of two parts loam, one part perlite, and one part rotted manure. This makes for a nice balance of organic and draining amaryllis soil requirements. Another recommended mix is one part loam, one part sand, and one part compost.
Whatever you use, just make sure your organic material is well rotted and broken up by enough gritty material to allow water to drain easily. When you plant your amaryllis, leave the top third to half of the bulb (the pointy end) above the potting mix. Amaryllis bulbs don’t require a lot of potting mix, so if you wind up with extra, keep it in a sealed container and save it until you need to repot. This way you’ll be sure to have the appropriate and sterile soil on hand.
