Pink Amaryllis - 3 pieces

Pink is the friendliest of the amaryllis colours. On strong stems, this amaryllis opens large trumpet flowers that turn out pale pink or strong pink depending on the bulb. In a group of three this creates a lively picture rather than a uniform block. In the half-light of a winter evening, the pink tones look particularly intense. Each flower stays in full bloom for a few days before the next one on the stalk takes over.

Its place is indoors: a bright windowsill, a sideboard or the dining table. At about 45–55 cm tall, it fits well in a bowl with moss or beside fir sprigs. White Christmas roses or cyclamen complement the soft pink beautifully. A cover pot in terracotta, zinc or ceramic adds extra style to the arrangement. If you like, you can also set the bulb in a glass vase with gravel so the roots stay visible.

As a cut flower, a stalk often lasts two weeks or longer in the vase if you change the water regularly. Pollinators play no part indoors, and it has no noticeable scent. Instead, in winter it provides exactly what is missing: colour. Cut the stalk when the first bud shows colour, and the rest will open in the vase. Over time the bulb forms offsets, which grow into plants of their own.

Pot the bulb between October and January in a pot only slightly larger than the bulb itself. A third to half of the bulb stays above the soil. Water well once, then sparingly until the flower stalk appears. A bright, warm spot at about 20 °C brings flowers after six to ten weeks.

After flowering, cut off only the stalk and let the leaves keep growing. Water and feed regularly until summer so the bulb can build up strength. From August it needs a rest period without water in a cool, dark place. All parts of the plant are toxic, so keep it away from children and pets.