How to Care for a Waxed Amaryllis

Waxed amaryllis needs no soil, no water and no pot. Set it in bright, indirect light, turn it every few days, and it blooms in 4–6 weeks.

How to Care for a Waxed Amaryllis
When to plant
Never. Unbox it and stand it up; that's the whole setup.
Depth
Not planted. The bulb sits on a flat surface with nothing over it.
Spacing
Not planted. Leave about 24 inches of clear height above it; stalks reach 12–24 inches.
Sun
Bright, indirect light. Keep it out of hot direct sun once the buds open.
Water
None at all. The wax holds all the water the bulb needs, and any water you add has nowhere to drain.
Soil
None. Do not pot it, and leave the wax on while it grows and blooms.

Step by step

  1. Take the bulb out of the box and stand it upright on a flat surface, or on its metal stand if one came with it.
  2. Put it somewhere with bright, indirect light and a steady room temperature, away from heat vents, radiators and cold drafts.
  3. Do not water it, do not pot it, and do not peel the wax.
  4. Give the bulb a quarter turn every few days so the stalk grows straight up instead of leaning toward the window.
  5. Expect the first stalk in 4–6 weeks, with one or two stalks in total and up to four flowers on each.
  6. If a heavy stalk starts to lean, set a thin bamboo stake alongside the bulb and tie the stalk to it with a loose loop of twine.
  7. Move it out of direct sun once the buds open. Cooler, softer light makes the flowers last about three weeks.
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