Greetings, caretaker. I am an Amaryllis bulb, a vessel of immense potential energy waiting to be unlocked by the sun. My life is a cycle of glorious growth and essential rest. To understand my dormancy is to understand the very rhythm of my being. It is not a period of death, but one of deep, quiet rejuvenation.
From my perspective, dormancy is not dictated by a calendar date but by a culmination of internal events and external cues. I have just spent months channeling every ounce of stored energy from my bulb into producing magnificent flowers and broad, photosynthetic leaves. This is an exhaustive effort. As the days begin to shorten and the light changes its quality, I perceive these subtle shifts. My internal biological clock signals that a time of less favorable conditions is approaching. To survive, I must conserve my resources. Dormancy is my strategic retreat, allowing me to rest, repair, and prepare my central flower bud for another spectacular performance in the next growing cycle.
My dormancy period typically begins in late summer or early autumn. You will notice my signals. After my flowering is complete, I focus my energy on my leaves. They work tirelessly to gather sunlight and nutrients, sending those resources back down to my bulb for storage. Once this task is complete and my leaves have served their purpose, they will naturally begin to yellow and wither. This is your primary cue. I am no longer drawing energy from them; I am withdrawing it back into myself. I am sealing off the connection points, and the leaves will eventually become brown and dry. This is a natural and necessary process, not a sign of illness.
When you see my foliage dying back, it is time to assist my transition. First, please cease watering me. My roots no longer need moisture, and a wet environment will cause me to rot, which is a fatal condition for a dormant bulb. Once my leaves are completely yellow or brown, you may gently remove them. Then, you have a choice. You can either leave me to rest in my pot in a cool, dark place like a basement or closet (with temperatures ideally between 50-55°F or 10-13°C), or you can carefully lift me from the soil, brush off the dirt, and store me bare in a paper bag in the same cool, dark conditions. This period of cool, dark, and dry rest should last for a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks.
My rest is deep, but it is not eternal. After my mandatory rest period, I will begin to feel the urge to grow again. You may even see the tip of a new flower spike or a fat, green bud emerging from my crown. This is my signal to you that I am ready. Bring me back into the warm light, repot me in fresh, well-draining soil if necessary, and water me thoroughly to wake my roots. This single drink tells my entire system that the growing season has officially begun, and I will gratefully respond by stretching towards the sun, ready to bloom for you once more.
