I like to grow amaryllis bulbs during the winter; they are some of the most beautiful indoor plants and are very easy to care for, and you can store them during the summer for reuse. The good ones (like this one) have huge flowers - the flower pictured is over 7 inches across. The tall stalks can get top-heavy and sometimes need staking. To find a good-quality bulb, buy from a reputable garden centre, in bulk. Usually the cheap ones at Wal-Mart, etc. are not very good. As well, the special Christmas "kits" usually turn out quite poor. A strong bulb will be nice and big, probably around 5 inches or so in diameter. Smaller ones will have smaller flowers the first year but should get bigger if you keep them as perennials. Better cultivars and older plants will produce multiple flower stalks, as well.The cultivar pictured is Hippeastrum 'Intokasie', from the Netherlands.
