How to Grow Amaryllis Without Soil

Amaryllis are beautiful plants that burst with huge, trumpet-shaped flowers. They are white, pink, red or salmon in color, atop tall stems. The plants grow well indoors. South African Amaryllis grow in the fall, and Dutch Amaryllis bloom in the winter. They can also be planted outside in USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10. Amaryllis are grown from bulbs, which are typically planted in soil. However, it's possible to grow amaryllis without soil. Use water and stones to force the plants to produce stems and flowers.

Glass planting container

Pebbles or river rocks

Scissors or pruning shears

Water

Fill a clear glass planter or vase with pebbles or river stones. Make them 4 inches deep.

Prune brown or dead roots from the amaryllis bulb with scissors or pruning shears. Leave fleshy roots, as well as those that are white in color, intact.

Set the bulb in the container with the roots facing down. Put it on top of the stone, then surround it with more stones. Fill until the top third of the amaryllis bulb is sticking out, uncovered.

Pour water in the container until it is 1 inch below the bottom of the bulb. Do not let the bulb sit in water or it will rot.

Place the container in a sunny location with a temperature above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures will make the bulb sprout faster.

Look at the water level every day. As it evaporates, add more, keeping the level consistent underneath the bottom of the bulb.

Watch for a shoot to grow, which usually takes two to eight weeks. Roots may begin growing before the shoots.

Rotate the glass often to keep the stalks from leaning in one direction. Throw the bulb away after the last blooms die.