Amaryllis in Wax: How It Grows Without Water, Where to Put It and What to Do After It Blooms

It looks like a red waxed ball just sitting on the table. Yet within a few weeks a stem about 35 centimetres tall grows out of it and giant red flowers open at its tip – without a single drop of water. We show how an amaryllis in wax grows week by week, why it needs no watering, where to put it at home or in the office and what to do with it once it has finished blooming.

Week by week: how an amaryllis in wax grows

At first glance it is hard to believe anything will come out of a waxed bulb. That is why it is good to know exactly what to expect – the transformation is the most fun part of the whole gift.

• Day 1 – a shoot peeks out of the wax. Just place the bulb somewhere bright.
• After a week – the stem grows quickly and a bud appears at its tip.
• Around day 14 – in a warm room, full bloom on a stem roughly 35 cm tall. It flowers for two to three weeks.

In a cooler room it grows more slowly and blooms only after three or four weeks. If you want it to flower right at Christmas, it is best to have the bulb at home by the end of November.

How can it grow without water?

An amaryllis bulb (botanically Hippeastrum) is a huge store of energy. During the previous season the plant stored sugars, water and nutrients in the bulb – exactly as much as it needs to push up a stem and bloom. In the wild this is how it survives dry periods and flowers even when it has not rained for a long time.

When the bulb is waxed, its roots are trimmed and it is coated in a layer of wax. The wax works as a protective shell: it keeps moisture inside and stops it from evaporating. The bulb then draws only on its own reserves, which is why it does not need a single drop of water. On the contrary – watering would harm it.

Where to put it at home or in the office

An amaryllis in wax needs no pot or saucer, so it fits almost anywhere. To keep it looking its best and growing straight, choose a bright spot out of direct sunlight.

Where it looks great

• Reception or entrance hall – the first thing visitors see. A red flower turns a plain desk into a welcoming spot.
• A desk next to the monitor – colleagues will check every day how much it has grown.
• Meeting table – the low bulb does not get in the way of discussion, and once it blooms it becomes a natural centrepiece of the room.
• Windowsill – ideal light, just not directly above a radiator.
• Coffee table or dining table in the living room – at home it completes the Advent decorations and lasts through the holidays.

Where it does not thrive

• Above a radiator or near a fireplace – the heat softens the wax and dries out the bulb.
• In a draught – airing the room in December gives it a cold shock. Move it away from the window for a while when you air the room.
• In direct sunlight – the wax can soften and the colour can fade.
• In a cold room – below about 15 °C it grows very slowly.

Tip: Turn the bulb every few days. The stem stretches towards the light and without turning it would lean to one side.

What to do with an amaryllis after it blooms?

A common question is: “Do you throw it away afterwards?” Not necessarily. When the flowers fade, you can give the bulb a second chance:

1. Cut off the spent stem about 5 cm above the bulb.
2. Carefully peel off the wax and remove the metal stand, if the bulb has one.
3. Plant the bulb in a pot with good-quality potting mix so that the top third sticks out, and water lightly.
4. Over spring and summer, grow it like an ordinary houseplant – in the light, with watering and occasional feeding. The leaves will help it replenish its reserves.
5. In autumn, cut back on watering and let the bulb rest somewhere cool and dry for 8–10 weeks. Then bring it back into the warmth, start watering, and with a bit of luck it will bloom again.

A waxed bulb has trimmed roots, so a new bloom is not guaranteed – but it is worth a try. A one-off decoration can become a houseplant for years to come, which anyone who cares about sustainability will appreciate.

In wax or in glass?

We offer the amaryllis in two versions. Waxed Amaryllis is completely maintenance-free – it needs no watering and blooms in two to four weeks. Amaryllis in glass is a ready-made Christmas decoration: a bulb in moss with a pine cone, cinnamon, pine and red ornaments in a glass vase. We deliver it in bud and in a warm room it blooms in about 10 days. Both versions make a great gift for colleagues and clients, or for under your own tree.

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