How to get your amaryllis to bloom again

Five steps to new flowers

1. 

   1

   Remove the faded flowers

   Pinch off each flower as it fades, right where it joins the stalk. That keeps the plant from spending energy on seeds. Leave the stalk itself for as long as it stays green.

   When the flowers fade

2. 

   2

   Cut the stalk, keep the leaves

   When the stalk turns yellow, cut it 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) above the bulb. The leaves stay. They make the energy the bulb needs, so think of them as next year's flowers.

   When the stalk turns yellow

3. 

   3

   Give it light and food all summer

   Keep the plant in bright light and feed it about once a month. Once frost has passed, it can move outside. Start in shade and work up to sun, at least six hours a day.

   Spring and summer

4. 

   4

   Let the bulb rest

   Bring the plant in before the first frost. Keep it somewhere cool and dark, around 45 to 55°F (7 to 13°C), and stop watering. The leaves will yellow and wither, and that's what they should do. Remove them only once they're fully dry.

   Late summer, for six to ten weeks

5. 

   5

   Start it up again

   When you see a new shoot, or the rest period is over, move the plant into the light and start watering. Flowers usually follow four to six weeks later.

   When the bulb wakes up