Hippeastrum Growing Guide Australia: How to Plant, Grow & Care for Hippeastrum Bulbs

Hippeastrums are one of the most spectacular flowering bulbs you can grow in Australia.

Their huge flowers come in reds, pinks, whites, oranges, creams, greens and an incredible range of stripes, markings, picotee edges and double forms.

Better still, they’re generally tough, long-lived bulbs.

With the right position, good drainage and a little care, a Hippeastrum bulb can live and flower for many years, often producing offsets around the original bulb and developing into an impressive clump.

At Oldboy’s Flowers in the Northern Rivers of NSW, we grow a large collection of Hippeastrums, and one thing we’ve learnt is that there isn’t a single calendar that works perfectly for every bulb in Australia.

Climate, variety, bulb maturity and growing conditions all have an effect.

This guide covers everything from planting your first bulb through to flowering, feeding, dormancy, propagation and common Hippeastrum problems.

Hippeastrum Quick Growing Guide

Botanical name: Hippeastrum spp. and hybrids

Common names: Hippeastrum, Amaryllis

Plant type: Perennial flowering bulb

Position: Full sun to part shade

Soil: Fertile, free-draining soil

Planting depth: Leave the neck and upper portion of the bulb exposed

Watering: Moderate during active growth and much less while dormant

Flowering: Generally late winter through spring and summer depending on climate and variety

Feeding: Feed during active leaf growth and after flowering

Propagation: Offsets, seed and advanced bulb division techniques

Suitable for pots: Yes

Suitable for garden beds: Yes

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Hippeastrum or Amaryllis: What’s the Difference?

This causes plenty of confusion.

The large flowering bulbs commonly called Amaryllis are usually actually Hippeastrums.

True Amaryllis belladonna is a different plant.

The name Amaryllis has become widely used internationally for Hippeastrums, particularly with bulbs sold for indoor flowering, which is why you’ll often see them advertised as:

Hippeastrum | Amaryllis

For the plants covered in this guide, Hippeastrum is the more botanically accurate name.

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When Should You Plant Hippeastrum Bulbs in Australia?

For most Australian gardeners, late winter through spring is a great time to plant Hippeastrum bulbs.

However, there is no single planting date that suits the entire country.

Australia has everything from tropical and subtropical climates through to cool temperate regions.

As a general guide:

Tropical and subtropical areas: Plant from winter into spring. Flowering can begin quite early.

Warm temperate areas: Plant from late winter through spring.

Cool temperate areas: Spring planting is generally safer once severe frost risk has eased.

Here in the Northern Rivers of NSW, some of our Hippeastrums can start sending up flower spikes surprisingly early.

Gardeners in southern Australia may see the same varieties flower considerably later.

That doesn’t mean anything is wrong with the bulb.

Temperature has a huge influence on Hippeastrum growth.

Different varieties can also behave completely differently even when planted beside each other.

Some race into flower.

Others take their sweet time.

That’s Hippeastrums.

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Where Should You Plant Hippeastrums?

Hippeastrums generally perform best in full sun to part shade.

Good light helps produce strong growth and allows the leaves to manufacture energy that is stored inside the bulb for future flowering.

In very hot climates, some protection from harsh afternoon sun can be beneficial, particularly for bulbs growing in pots.

In cooler climates, give them as much good light as possible.

Also consider wind.

Some Hippeastrum cultivars produce extremely large flowers on tall stems. Those flowers can become surprisingly top-heavy during strong wind or heavy rain.

A protected position can help prevent damaged flower stems.

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The Most Important Thing When Growing Hippeastrums: Drainage

If you remember one thing from this entire guide, remember this:

Hippeastrum bulbs hate sitting in constantly wet soil.

They are large, fleshy bulbs and poor drainage can quickly create problems with roots and bulb rot.

The ideal soil should hold enough moisture to support growth while allowing excess water to drain freely.

If your garden has heavy clay or remains wet after rain, consider improving the drainage, planting into a raised garden bed or growing your Hippeastrums in pots.

For pots, always use a good-quality free-draining potting mix and make sure the container has proper drainage holes.

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How Deep Should You Plant a Hippeastrum Bulb?

This is one of the most common Hippeastrum planting mistakes.

Do not bury a Hippeastrum bulb completely.

Place the bulb with the roots facing downward and the growing point facing upward.

Leave the neck and roughly the upper third of the bulb above the soil or potting mix.

Planting the bulb high is particularly useful in humid or wet climates because it keeps the neck away from constantly damp soil.

Once planted, gently firm the soil around the roots.

You don’t need to push the bulb deeply into the ground.

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How to Plant Hippeastrum Bulbs in the Garden

Choose a position with good light and excellent drainage.

Prepare the soil if required and remove any major weeds or competing roots.

Position the bulb with the roots facing down.

Leave approximately the top third of the bulb above soil level.

Firm the soil gently around the bulb.

Water after planting to settle the soil.

After that, avoid continually soaking a dormant bulb while you’re waiting for growth.

Patience is important.

A bulb doesn’t need to be drowned into waking up.

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Growing Hippeastrums in Pots

Hippeastrums are excellent container plants.

They’re actually quite happy growing reasonably snug in a pot.

For a single mature bulb, a pot approximately 15–20cm wide or larger will generally work well depending on the size of the bulb.

You don’t need to put one bulb in an enormous pot.

Allow a few centimetres between the bulb and the side of the container.

Make sure the pot has drainage holes and use a quality free-draining potting mix.

Plant the bulb high, leaving the neck and upper portion exposed.

If you’re growing one of the giant-flowered varieties, consider using a reasonably heavy pot.

A huge Hippeastrum flower sitting on top of a tall flower stem can make a lightweight pot surprisingly easy to knock over.

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How Often Should You Water Hippeastrums?

Watering depends heavily on what stage the bulb is at.

A newly planted dormant bulb generally doesn’t need huge amounts of water.

Water after planting to settle the soil or potting mix, then avoid keeping the bulb constantly wet while it has very little active growth.

Once roots, leaves and flower stems are actively growing, water requirements increase.

Water thoroughly and allow excess water to drain away.

The goal is:

Moist but free-draining soil — not constantly saturated soil.

Potted Hippeastrums may require more frequent watering because containers dry out faster than garden beds.

During genuine dormancy, watering should be significantly reduced.

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Should You Water Over the Top of a Hippeastrum Bulb?

Where possible, water the soil or potting mix around the bulb rather than continually filling the neck and crown with water.

This is particularly useful in humid climates.

Obviously outdoor Hippeastrums are going to get rained on.

That’s fine.

The bigger problem is a combination of constantly wet soil, poor airflow and poor drainage.

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Fertilising Hippeastrums

Everyone notices the flowers.

But the leaves are doing a huge amount of the work.

After flowering, the Hippeastrum leaves continue producing energy that is stored inside the bulb.

That stored energy helps support future growth and flowering.

Feed Hippeastrums while they are actively growing.

A quality complete fertiliser suitable for flowering plants and bulbs can be used according to the directions on the product.

One of the most important feeding periods is after flowering while the leaves are still actively growing.

This is when the bulb is rebuilding itself.

Potted bulbs particularly benefit from regular feeding because their roots only have access to the nutrients available inside their container.

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How Long Does a Hippeastrum Take to Flower?

There is no exact number.

A mature bulb entering active growth may flower within roughly 5–10 weeks, but temperature, variety, bulb maturity and previous growing conditions can change this considerably.

Warm conditions usually speed growth up.

Cool conditions slow it down.

Some bulbs may already have a developing flower bud inside them before planting.

Others may concentrate on producing roots or leaves first.

This is why two Hippeastrum bulbs planted on exactly the same day may not flower together.

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My Hippeastrum Has a Flower Spike — How Long Until It Blooms?

Once a flower spike appears, things start getting exciting.

Initially the flower buds will remain tightly enclosed at the top of the stem.

As the spike develops, the individual buds become increasingly obvious.

Once those buds start separating and turning outward, flowering can be very close.

Under warm conditions, flowers may begin opening within days.

Cool weather can slow the process considerably.

Don’t panic if your neighbour’s Hippeastrum opens before yours.

Even different bulbs of the same variety can move at slightly different speeds.

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Why Is My Hippeastrum Growing Leaves but No Flowers?

This is one of the most common questions we hear.

Unfortunately, there isn’t one single answer.

Possible causes include:

• Insufficient sunlight

• An immature or undersized bulb

• Poor nutrition during the previous growing season

• Healthy leaves being removed too early

• Root damage

• Excessive shade

• Poor drainage

• Stress

• The bulb simply not being ready to flower yet

The previous growing season is extremely important.

If healthy green leaves are cut off immediately after flowering, the bulb loses part of its opportunity to replenish the energy it just spent producing those massive flowers.

Think of flowering as the result of how the bulb has been treated over many months.

Not just what happened this week.

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What Should You Do After a Hippeastrum Flowers?

This is one of the most important parts of growing Hippeastrums successfully.

If you don’t want seed, remove the spent flowers.

Once the flower stalk has finished, it can eventually be removed as well.

But leave the healthy green foliage alone.

Do not cut healthy green leaves off just because flowering has finished.

Keep the plant growing.

Give it good light.

Water when required.

Feed it.

Those leaves are rebuilding the bulb.

Eventually the foliage may naturally yellow and die back.

At that point the leaves have largely finished their job.

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Should You Deadhead Hippeastrum Flowers?

Usually, yes.

Unless you want seeds.

After successful pollination, the plant can begin directing considerable energy into developing seed capsules.

If your goal is simply to grow a strong bulb and encourage future flowering and offsets, removing spent flowers makes sense.

If you’re breeding Hippeastrums, however, leave the flowers alone.

Or better still, get to them before the bees do.

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Can You Grow Hippeastrums From Seed?

Absolutely.

And this is where Hippeastrums get seriously addictive.

A seed-grown Hippeastrum is not guaranteed to look exactly like its parent.

When different Hippeastrums are crossed, their genetics combine and the resulting seedlings can vary dramatically.

That is how new Hippeastrum seedlings and eventually new varieties are created.

You can deliberately transfer pollen from one Hippeastrum flower onto the receptive stigma of another.

If pollination is successful, a seed capsule develops.

Growing Hippeastrums from seed takes patience.

Seedlings can take several years to reach flowering size.

But that first flower is something special.

You’ve spent years growing a plant without knowing exactly what its first bloom is going to look like.

It could be ordinary.

Or it could be an absolute racehorse.

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Can You Name Your Own Hippeastrum Seedling?

You can certainly give a seedling a name within your own collection.

But one beautiful flower doesn’t automatically make a great new cultivar.

If you think you have something special, grow it for several seasons.

Watch its flower shape, markings, colour, growth habit, flowering reliability and overall performance.

Ideally, propagate it vegetatively as well so you can confirm that its characteristics remain consistent.

A beautiful first flower is exciting.

A genuinely good cultivar needs to prove itself.

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Hippeastrum Offsets or “Pups”

Mature Hippeastrum bulbs can produce smaller bulbs around the parent bulb.

These are commonly called offsets or pups.

As they grow, they can eventually be separated from the parent bulb and grown independently.

Unlike seedlings, offsets are clones of the parent plant.

That means an offset from a named variety should retain the characteristics of that variety.

Smaller offsets may take several years to become large enough to flower.

Let them grow.

Feed them.

And resist the temptation to expect flowers immediately.

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Can Hippeastrum Bulbs Be Chipped?

Yes.

Chipping is an advanced propagation method used to multiply desirable bulbs.

The bulb is divided vertically into sections while retaining part of the basal plate on each section.

Under the right conditions, those sections can produce new bulblets.

Because the bulb is being physically cut apart, hygiene becomes extremely important.

Poor technique, contaminated tools or excessively wet conditions can quickly cause fungal problems and rot.

For most backyard growers, allowing bulbs to naturally produce offsets is much easier.

For collectors and growers trying to rapidly multiply a particularly good variety, chipping is where things start getting interesting.

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Do Hippeastrums Need to Go Dormant?

This can become unnecessarily complicated.

Some Hippeastrums naturally lose their foliage seasonally.

Others can retain leaves for much of the year in warm climates.

Different species and hybrids also behave differently.

The main thing is:

Don’t cut healthy green foliage off simply because the calendar says your Hippeastrum should be dormant.

Let the plant tell you.

If the foliage naturally begins yellowing and dying back, reduce watering and allow the bulb to enter its rest period.

While genuinely dormant, keep the bulb considerably drier.

In warm parts of Australia, some Hippeastrums may remain green for a surprisingly long time.

That’s perfectly fine.

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Should You Dig Up Hippeastrum Bulbs Every Year?

Usually, no.

In suitable Australian climates, established Hippeastrums can remain in the ground for many years.

In fact, older clumps can produce spectacular displays once multiple mature bulbs are flowering together.

You generally only need to lift them if:

• The clump has become overcrowded

• You want to divide and propagate the bulbs

• The position has drainage problems

• You need to move them

• Your climate requires protection from severe cold

Otherwise, there’s no need to dig them up every year simply because they are bulbs.

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When Should You Divide Hippeastrums?

Hipastrum clumps can be divided when they become crowded or when you want to separate offsets.

A quieter stage of growth usually makes handling easier.

Gently lift the bulbs, separate developed offsets from the parent and replant them into well-drained soil or potting mix.

Smaller offsets can be grown on until they reach flowering size.

Don’t expect every tiny pup to flower the following season.

Growing a large flowering bulb takes time.

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Hippeastrum Red Blotch

Red blotch is one of the better-known diseases affecting Hippeastrums.

Affected plants can develop red lesions on bulbs, leaves and flower stems.

More severe infections can cause damaged, distorted or weakened growth.

However:

A red mark on a Hippeastrum bulb does not automatically mean it has red blotch.

Hippeastrum tissue can naturally develop red pigmentation following physical damage.

Look at the overall condition of the tissue.

Healthy, firm tissue with some superficial red colouring is very different from spreading, sunken or deteriorating lesions.

Good airflow, good drainage and sensible watering practices all help reduce disease pressure.

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Hippeastrum Bulb Rot

A healthy Hippeastrum bulb should generally feel firm.

Soft, collapsing, foul-smelling or badly deteriorating tissue is a warning sign.

Bulb rot is commonly associated with excessive moisture, poor drainage, damaged tissue and fungal or bacterial infection.

Prevention is much easier than trying to save a bulb once extensive rot has reached the basal plate.

Avoid keeping bulbs permanently wet and make sure your growing medium drains freely.

If you notice a problem, inspect the bulb properly before deciding what to do.

One damaged outer scale does not necessarily mean the entire bulb is lost.

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Common Hippeastrum Pests

Hippeastrums are fairly tough plants, but they aren’t completely pest free.

Problems can include:

• Snails and slugs

• Sap-sucking insects

• Bulb mites

• Bulb fly larvae

• Fungus gnats around persistently damp growing media

Regularly inspect your plants, particularly new growth and bulbs being stored or propagated.

Fungus gnats can also be a good warning that your potting mix is remaining wet for long periods.

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Why Is My Hippeastrum Flower Stem Leaning?

Usually because it is growing towards the strongest light source.

This is particularly noticeable with Hippeastrums grown indoors.

Flower stems grow quickly and can lean strongly towards a window.

Rotate potted plants regularly if you want straighter growth.

Some giant-flowered varieties also become extremely top-heavy.

If required, stake the flower stem before it falls over.

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How Can You Make Hippeastrum Flowers Last Longer?

Heat speeds flowering up.

Once flowers begin opening, slightly cooler conditions can help extend the display.

For indoor Hippeastrums, move the flowering plant away from heaters and extremely hot windows.

Outdoor gardeners obviously have less control over the weather.

A hot spell can make flowers open and finish surprisingly quickly.

That's gardening.

Enjoy them while they’re there.

And take plenty of photos.

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Can Hippeastrums Grow in Australian Gardens?

Absolutely.

Hippeastrums are particularly well suited to many tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate parts of Australia.

They can also be successfully grown in cooler climates with appropriate positioning and frost protection.

Gardeners in Queensland and northern NSW can produce some incredible established Hippeastrum clumps.

In cooler parts of Australia, growth and flowering usually occur later.

The fundamentals remain the same:

Good drainage.

Good light.

Appropriate watering.

Feed the foliage.

And don’t bury the bulb too deeply.

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Our Biggest Hippeastrum Growing Tips

After growing and handling a lot of Hippeastrums, we reckon people sometimes make them harder than they need to be.

Give the bulb excellent drainage.

Leave the neck exposed.

Give the leaves plenty of light.

Don’t drown a dormant bulb.

Don’t cut healthy leaves off after flowering.

Feed it while it is actively growing.

And give it time.

Different varieties behave differently.

Some send flower spikes up early.

Some produce leaves first.

Some multiply quickly.

Some seem determined to remain one enormous bulb forever.

That’s part of the fun of collecting Hippeastrums.

Once you move beyond the standard reds and pinks, the variety becomes incredible.

There are doubles, cybisters, butterfly types, Sonatini varieties, striped flowers, picotees, greens, near-black reds and flowers where every bloom seems slightly different.

And that’s exactly why our collection keeps getting bigger.

Shop our Hippeastrum bulb collection at Oldboy’s Flowers.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hippeastrums

Are Hippeastrum and Amaryllis the same thing?

Not botanically. Most of the large flowering bulbs commonly sold as Amaryllis are actually Hippeastrum hybrids. True Amaryllis belladonna belongs to a different genus.

When is the best time to plant Hippeastrum bulbs in Australia?

Late winter through spring is a useful general planting period. Timing varies depending on climate, variety and whether the bulb is being grown indoors or outdoors.

How deep should I plant a Hippeastrum bulb?

Leave the neck and approximately the upper third of the bulb exposed above the soil or potting mix.

Do Hippeastrums prefer sun or shade?

Full sun to part shade is generally ideal. Good light helps produce strong growth and allows the bulb to rebuild its energy reserves.

How long does a Hippeastrum take to flower?

A mature bulb entering active growth may flower in approximately 5–10 weeks, although temperature, variety and bulb maturity can significantly affect this.

Why is my Hippeastrum growing leaves but not flowering?

Possible causes include insufficient light, an immature bulb, poor feeding during the previous season, foliage being removed too early, root problems, stress or the bulb simply not being ready to flower.

Should I cut Hippeastrum leaves off after flowering?

No. Keep healthy green leaves growing. They manufacture energy that is stored inside the bulb and helps support future flowering.

Should I remove dead Hippeastrum flowers?

Yes, unless you want to produce seeds. Removing spent flowers prevents the plant from putting energy into seed development.

Can Hippeastrums stay in the ground all year?

Yes, in many Australian climates. They can remain in the garden for years provided the soil drains well and severe frost is not an issue.

Can Hippeastrums grow in pots?

Absolutely. Use a free-draining potting mix, a container with proper drainage holes and leave the upper portion of the bulb exposed.

How do Hippeastrums multiply?

Hippeastrums can multiply naturally through offsets. They can also be grown from seed or propagated using advanced bulb division methods such as chipping.

Will a Hippeastrum grown from seed look like the parent?

Not necessarily. Seedlings contain a new combination of genetics and can vary significantly from their parents. This is how completely new Hippeastrum seedlings are created.

How long can a Hippeastrum bulb live?

With good growing conditions, Hippeastrums are long-lived perennial bulbs and can remain in gardens and collections for many years.

Why hasn't my Hippeastrum flowered this year?

It may be immature, lacking sufficient sunlight or nutrition, recovering from stress or simply behaving differently due to climate and seasonal conditions. How the bulb was grown during the previous season often affects its ability to flower.

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Grow Hippeastrums With Oldboy’s Flowers

We grow and stock a continually changing collection of Hippeastrum bulbs at Oldboy’s Flowers in the Northern Rivers of NSW.

From classic varieties through to doubles, unusual colours, striking markings and harder-to-find cultivars, there is always something new appearing in the collection.

If your bulb is doing something strange, remember that Hippeastrums don’t all behave exactly the same way.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is give them good conditions and let them get on with it.

Shop Hippeastrum bulbs online at Oldboy’s Flowers and have them delivered to your door across eligible Australian destinations.