Dividing Amaryllis

I have a question about my amaryllis plant as well as a dilemma.  Six or eight years ago I received an amaryllis bulb from my mother. It is currently in a large pot along with many of its offspring. The entire top of the pot is packed with bulbs so separation and transplanting would be disruptive and quite a chore. It is blooming now and also blooms each summer.  Should I separate and divide the bulbs or leave well enough alone?

Sounds like you have the touch for successfully growing and reblooming amaryllis.  As you have observed, amaryllis like to be pot bound.  You can leave them in cramped quarters as long as the plants remain vigorous and blooming.  If the bulbs produce fewer or smaller leaves or fail to bloom you need to take action. You can move the collection of bulbs to a slightly bigger pot or separate them planting each bulb in its own small pot.  Make division less stressful on you and the plant by soaking the rootball in water.  Carefully pull the bulbs apart and untangle the roots.  Then plant each bulb in its own container.  Don’t worry if the plants don’t bloom the first year after transplanting.  They may be devoting all the energy to rooting and transplant recovery.  You may need to adjust watering and fertilization since the bulbs will now have a larger volume of soil to hold the water.

Related

Audio

Why Your Amaryllis Didn’t Bloom for the Holidays

Audio

Selecting Amaryllis that Will Bloom for Christmas

Audio

Green Experiential Gifts that Keep Giving

Audio

Grow Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus) Indoors