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[rms1954]

My first one and it grew quite tall and bloomed 6 flowers.  So my question is once the blooms have died, do I cut the dead ones or just let them fall off??

[RedTop]

I cut the stalk off in order for the growth to go into the other stalks and blooms.

[shoesnbags]

Yes, what @RedTop said.  And then in the Spring you can put the bulb in the ground and it will bloom every year.

[Biftu]

They will only bloom outdoors in zones 8-10.  It is a tropical plant.

[CamilleP]

If you want to keep it alive and have it bloom every year, BEFORE you plant it, you have to peel all that wax off the bulb.  The bulb has to be able to grow roots into soil in order for the plant to live.  You can plant the bulb into a decent-sized pot and keep it as an indoor plant, one of my co-workers had one in her office, and it lived for years and bloomed several huge red blooms every year.  (Since the plant's leaves and stalk get very tall, the plant is top-heavy, so a clay or ceramic pot would be a better choice than plastic.)

[Lilysmom1]

@CamilleP Good info.  Thanks for sharing.

[cindyNC]

Good information!  After many years, I finally purchased one again!

[River Song]

I have the planting and growing guide for amaryllis from Roberta's Gardens.  This is what it says:  once it has finished flowering, cut the old flowers from the stems but keep the foliage intact and keep by a sunny window in the home.  The bulbs may continue to produce new foliage and even flowers.  Once fall returns, cut all foliage off just above the top of the bulb and store in a dark cool area like a garage or basement for 8-10 weeks.  After this period of rest, bring the potted plants back into a sunny area of the home, repot in fresh soil and bulbs should start to regenerate growth within a few weeks.  If you live in Zones 8-10, you may plant them in the ground.   They tend to produce flowers in the spring.

[shoesnbags]

Thanks @River Song .  I live in Zone 9 and Amaryllis is such an easy care plant here. We just put them in the ground outside and they bloom year after year, with the bulbs getting bigger and multiplying.  I didn't realize that care was so much more complicated farther north.  On the other hand, the only way we can get tulips to bloom is to put the bulbs in the refrigerator for 6 weeks or so before planting!

[Another new name Sue]

I've peeled off the wax and other coating, stuck it in the ground here in Zone 10, and it grows like a weed and blooms too.  Really pretty pink and white. I saw them in Trader Joes this year.