Best Amaryllis Bulb Kits: What to Buy and What to Skip

To narrow down the best amaryllis bulb kits, we looked for listings that are in stock, rated 4.3 stars or higher, and backed by real buyer reviews. We also wanted three different styles: a complete growing kit, a budget bare bulb, and a waxed bulb that needs no watering at all.

Best Overall: Amaryllis Apple Blossom Growing Kit

This is the one pick on our list that is a true kit, which is why it takes the top spot. Everything a beginner needs arrives in one box, and the Apple Blossom variety is a classic holiday choice with soft pink and white blooms. It holds a 4.4 star rating from more than 170 buyers.

• Big bulb included: the listing describes a large Apple Blossom bulb, and bulb size matters because bigger bulbs tend to push more stalks and flowers.
• Pot and saucer: a plastic pot with a matching saucer catches runoff, so you can set it on a sill or table without worry.
• Professional growing medium: no trip to the garden center for potting mix.

The drawback is the container. A plain plastic pot works fine, but it is not much to look at, so many buyers slip it inside a decorative cachepot. Choose this kit for a first time grower or as a ready to go gift, priced around $25.

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Best Value: Black Pearl Amaryllis Bulb

If you already have a pot and some potting mix in the shed, a bare bulb is the cheapest path to holiday blooms. Black Pearl stands out because of its deep, dark red single flowers. It carries a 4.4 star rating from nearly 200 buyers.

• Single blooming form: classic wide trumpet flowers rather than ruffled doubles, a clean look for holiday displays.
• Easy to grow: the seller markets it as an easy bulb, and amaryllis in general needs only a snug pot and bright light.
• Lowest price on our list: around $24, which leaves budget for a nicer pot.

The real drawback is that nothing else comes with it. You supply the container and a well draining mix, and the listing does not state the bulb size. It suits gardeners who like to choose their own planter or who want to grow several bulbs in one wide bowl.

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Best No Water Gift: Gardenuity Waxed Amaryllis Bulb

A waxed bulb is the most hands off way to enjoy an amaryllis, and this Gardenuity version is the best rated waxed option we found with a solid number of reviews. The bulb is sealed in white wax and produces white blooms, a crisp look that fits any decor. It holds a 4.6 star rating from more than 80 buyers.

• No water needed: the bulb holds enough moisture and energy inside the wax to bloom on its own.
• Gift ready presentation: it is packaged to hand over as a hostess, teacher, or neighbor gift.
• White on white styling: white wax with white flowers looks elegant from Thanksgiving through New Year.

The drawback is longevity. Waxed bulbs are generally treated as a one season display, since the wax keeps roots from growing and the bulb rarely reblooms. Pick it for busy friends or anyone without a green thumb, priced around $35.

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Choosing the best amaryllis bulb kits comes down to where the plant will live, how much care the grower wants to give, and whether the bulb should last beyond one season. These six points cover what actually matters.

Light and Climate Needs

Amaryllis is a tender bulb from warm regions, so in most of the country it is grown indoors as a low maintenance winter bloomer. Give it a bright window, ideally with a few hours of direct sun, and keep the room around 60 to 75 degrees. Gardeners in roughly USDA zone 8 to 10 can plant bulbs outdoors after the holidays.

A dark room is the most common reason stalks stretch and flop. If your windows face north, a small grow light on a timer helps; our guide to the best grow lights for indoor plants covers good options.

Ease of Care

Waxed bulbs are the easiest: set them down and wait. Complete kits come next, since the pot and medium are already matched to the bulb. Bare bulbs need a bit more setup, but they give experienced growers the freedom to choose soil and containers. New growers can start with our tips on how to plant flowers for beginners, then move on to bare bulbs next season.

Size and Space

Amaryllis stalks often reach 16 to 24 inches, and top heavy blooms can tip a light pot. Plan for a spot with headroom, like a deep windowsill, side table, or plant stand. One bulb fits a 6 inch pot, while a wide bowl can hold three bulbs for a fuller centerpiece.

Materials and Weather Resistance

Plastic pots are light and hold moisture well, ceramic adds weight that keeps tall stalks steady, and metal or wood cachepots work best as outer covers. Whatever you use, the inner pot needs drainage holes. Amaryllis is not frost resistant, so keep any container indoors or in a heated space once nights drop toward 50 degrees.

What Is Included

Amaryllis kits contain a bulb, not seeds, so read the listing carefully. A full kit adds a pot, saucer, and growing medium, while a bare bulb includes nothing else and a waxed bulb needs nothing else. Bulb size, often listed in centimeters such as 28 to 30 cm or 32 to 34 cm, is a useful clue: larger bulbs usually mean more flower stalks.

Pet Safety

Amaryllis is toxic to cats and dogs, and the bulb is the most concentrated part. Chewing leaves or the bulb can cause vomiting, drooling, and stomach upset. If you share your home with curious pets, place the pot on a high shelf or choose a different gift; poinsettias also irritate pets, though usually more mildly.

Most amaryllis bulb kits fall into four groups. The quick table below compares them, and the short notes after it explain who each type suits.

Indoor

Bare bulbs like the Picotee, with white petals edged in red, bloom well in a snug pot by a sunny window. The Amaryllis Picotee bulb lists a 28 to 30 cm size and sells for around $25.

Outdoor

In frost free areas, amaryllis can live in the garden year round. Plant with the neck just above the soil in rich, well drained ground and partial sun.

Kits

Kits bundle a bulb, pot, and medium. They suit beginners, and they make the tidiest gift because nothing needs to be bought separately.

Decor

Waxed bulbs work as living decorations. The Picasso Waxed Amaryllis Bulb, in white wax with pink and red splatter, is the highest rated waxed option in our table at around $35.

A few simple habits keep an amaryllis healthy from the first green tip to the last bloom. These tips apply to bare bulbs and kits; waxed bulbs only need a bright spot.

Watering and Light

After potting, water once and then hold back until you see new growth, since soggy soil can rot the bulb. Once the stalk is up, water when the top inch of mix feels dry. Turn the pot every few days so the stalk grows straight instead of leaning toward the window.

Helping It Bloom for the Holidays

Most amaryllis bulbs flower about 6 to 10 weeks after planting, so pot them by early November for Christmas color. If you want blooms on a specific date, stagger two or three bulbs a week or two apart.

Keeping It Going After the Season

Once flowers fade, cut the stalk near the bulb but keep the leaves growing in bright light. Feed lightly through spring and summer, then let the foliage die back in late summer for a cool, dry rest of 8 to 10 weeks before restarting.

Yes, and they suit almost everyone on a gardener's list. Amaryllis bulb kits for Christmas give the recipient something to watch grow through the dark weeks of winter, and the bloom feels like a second gift when it opens. Teachers, neighbors, hosts, and older relatives all appreciate one.

For a nicer presentation, tuck a kit into a ceramic cachepot with a ribbon, or pair a bare bulb with a small bag of potting mix and a care card. If you are building a bigger gift, browse our best gifts for gardeners or our picks for the best paperwhite bulb kits, another fragrant winter bulb.

Order early, because bulbs need weeks to bloom and shipping gets busy. Check Amazon's holiday shipping page for this year's cutoff dates, and consider an Amazon gift card or eGift if you are shopping at the last minute.

The main safety concern with any amaryllis is pets. All parts of the plant are toxic to cats and dogs, so keep pots well out of reach and clean up fallen petals and leaves. Call your veterinarian or a pet poison helpline right away if you suspect your pet chewed the bulb.

Other holiday plants deserve the same care. Poinsettias can irritate pets and kids, so give them a high spot too, and our guide to the best poinsettia planters covers sturdy, stable containers. Finally, use a weighted pot for tall stalks so a tipping plant does not break a window ornament or land on a curious toddler.

Here are quick answers to the questions buyers ask most often about amaryllis bulbs and kits. Each answer starts with the short version.

How do you care for amaryllis bulb kits in winter?

Keep the pot in a bright window at room temperature and water only when the top inch of mix is dry. Rotate the pot every few days so the stalk grows straight, and move it away from cold drafts and heat vents.

Are amaryllis bulb kits safe for cats and dogs?

No, amaryllis is toxic to cats and dogs, especially the bulb. Eating it can cause vomiting, drooling, and stomach upset, so place the plant where pets cannot reach it and call your vet if any part is chewed.

How long do amaryllis bulb kits last?

A potted amaryllis can rebloom for many years if you keep the leaves growing after flowering and give the bulb a dormant rest each year. Waxed bulbs are different and usually last one bloom season.

Are amaryllis bulb kits good gifts for beginners?

Yes, they are one of the easiest flowering gifts for beginners. A complete kit includes the bulb, pot, and growing medium, so the recipient only needs a bright window and a little water to see big blooms.

Where can you buy amaryllis bulb kits online?

Amazon is a convenient place to compare bulbs, kits, and waxed options side by side, with buyer ratings for each. Garden catalogs and local nurseries also sell them in fall, often with a wider choice of named varieties.

For most people, the Apple Blossom Growing Kit is the simplest way to get holiday blooms, since the bulb, pot, and medium arrive together. The Black Pearl bulb is the value pick for gardeners with their own containers, and the Gardenuity waxed bulb is the easiest gift of all. Among these top rated amaryllis bulb kits, any one can brighten a winter windowsill.

Whichever you choose, the best amaryllis bulb kits are the ones planted early and kept away from pets. Scroll back up to the product table to compare current prices on Amazon.