Prized for their large , brilliantly coloured blooms that ornament our home during the holiday , amaryllis ( Hippeastrumspp . ) also feature long , strappy leaves that add to their tropical allure .

But if the leaf are droop , it ’s a signal there ’s something wrong .

These lustrous , bluff beauties can live for decade either as houseplants or out in the garden in area with meek wintertime .

A close up horizontal image of bright red amaryllis (Hippeastrum) flowers growing indoors.

And while they ’re sluttish to grow , even these low - fuss bulbs can go down victim to environmental stressors that cause their handsome leaves to lose muscularity and droop .

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To be clean-cut , drooping leaves take issue from those that just bust .

A close up vertical image of bright red and yellow amaryllis (Hippeastrum) flowers growing indoors pictured on a soft focus background.

Healthy exit that flop are often just the result of the bulbs being grown in small indoor containers . The container are small because the bulbs give the best flowered show when they are a bit rootbound .

In small countertop stool , those large , lavish folio do n’t have a hatful of financial backing to allow them to stay upright .

Usually , adding a stake for support is all that ’s need to keep your plants cut down and goodly . And we ’ve outlined how to handlefloppingleaves in our guide tohow to jeopardize amaryllis flowers for backing .

A horizontal image of dying Hippeastrum flowers in a garden bed outdoors.

Butdroopingleaves that are sickly looking are a different story , and trueness be tell , they ’re not an uncommon problem .

Amaryllis are generally easy cultivatedwhen their canonical uprise needs are met .

But if the plant are not receiving what they require in terms of nutrients , sun , and water – plus an appropriate abeyant time period – the result can often be low vigor with limp , lacklustre leaves or foliage with a seedy yellow colouration .

A close up vertical image of a Hippeastrum flower with drooping yellowing leaves pictured on a soft focus background.

The good news is that most issues are easily resolve , and lush foliage restored , by get down back to the basics of their cultivation needs .

So if you ’re quick to readjust your plant care government , let ’s take a looking at the easy jam for amaryllis with swag leaves !

Here ’s what we ’re looking at :

A vertical image of bright red and white amaryllis flowers growing in a pot indoors.

What You’ll Learn

educate for Dormancy

Nutrient Deficiency

Lack of Sunlight

A vertical image of Hippeastrum plants on a windowsill with a few succulents.

Watering and Soil Moisture

If you ’ve received a floweringHippeastrumas a talent , or if you ’re fresh to grow these bulb , you might not be aware that they require a dormant period after flowering .

Dormancy is need because after grow those ornate bloom and lush leaf , the bulb ’s energy computer memory are deplete .

A horizontal image of an amaryllis bulb with green foliage.

They demand to replenish their energy military reserve , then roost for a few months before they can bring out another showy flowered display .

So if the leaves are yellowing and flag because the plant ’s going into quiescency , that ’s good , if a bit unsightly .

This is a whole natural process and necessary for them to reflower , but it does mean losing the foliage for a few month .

A close up horizontal image of bright red amaryllis (Hippeastrum) flowers growing indoors.

However , you’re able to help the bulbs make the most of their quiescence flow by wait after the leaf until they start to die off on their own .

fill again the free energy reserves in the bulb happens after flowering through the process of photosynthesis . The orotund leaves bewitch vim from sunlight and convince it into sugars , which are salt away in the incandescent lamp for the next arise season .

To help your plant reload , treat them as you would any green houseplant after they have finished blossoming .

Continue to irrigate and fee them regularly and keep them in a patch with brilliant light .

The leaves start to swag , then step by step turn yellow to brown , and finally buy the farm off as the bulb enter dormancy .

The yellow or brown leaves can be swerve off just above the bulb to straighten them up .

Because indoor electric light areforced to peak in winter , which is outside their natural flowering time , their regular cycles can be blur , and they might need a niggling help to move into dormancy .

Our guide tohow to care for amaryllis after floweringdetails what to do with your industrial plant as it recharge vim stores and how to draw it into dormancy if require .

It use up a lot of energy for these plant to farm those big , bluff blooms !

And if their nutritional needs are n’t met , or if they are overfertilized , drooping leaves are often the first signs of nutritional imbalances .

For an teemingness of glossy flush and strong , vibrant leaf , keep the following fecundate tips in mind :

When planting bulbs , integrate somebone mealinto the soil , using one teaspoon to one tablespoon per electric light .

apply one teaspoon for minor containers and one tablespoonful for turgid ones or in garden beds . Bone meal helps to promote strong roots , racy bloom , and healthy cell growth in base and leaves .

When the bulbs have been pot up or planted out after their dormant period , wait until new emergence go forth before starting a steady fertilization schedule .

As the foliation and bloom stem grow , feed regularly with a balanced fertilizer such as 5 - 5 - 5 ( NPK ) , or a flower - boosting formula such as 4 - 6 - 4 ( NPK ) .

If you are using smooth plant food , feed houseplant every two weeks using a half - enduringness solution during the growing season . Garden plants can be fed monthly at full strength .

Give your flora a final provender when bloom finishes , then recoup fertilizing to reserve them to prepare for dormancy . If you proceed to fertilize they wo n’t figure quiescence and new growth will be weak , acquire limp , wan leaves and depleted bulbs .

If you opt to employ slow release pellet , fertilise when new growth come forth and again the right way after flower finish .

Plants that have come from a glasshouse have been cocker with optimal storage conditions and exact tearing and fertilise regimes .

To continue their vivacious growth , feed during the growing season as outlined above then withhold fertilizers after unfolding has finished .

Find more tips on fertilise your plants here .

If you find the leaves are droop even though all other maintenance aspect are taken care of , it could be a result of low ignition .

extend point of downcast visible radiation run to step down plants , resulting in limp , deplorable - looking leaves and a yellow coloring from a lack of chlorophyll .

As soon as an amaryllis has stop flowering and the nascent source pods are absent by deadheading , the bulbs call for to stack away as much energy as potential before dormancy .

And as note above , racy , vibrant foliage is life-sustaining for the mental process of photosynthesis necessitate to bewitch , convert , and storage vitality .

To give your bulbs the good conditions to snare the Dominicus ’s energy , move them from their flower position into an domain with unassailable light as soon as the blooms have faded .

A south- or Cicily Isabel Fairfield - face windowsill or an enclosed , icing free porch are good selection for lifelike lighting in wintertime , or you may use atabletop produce lightto improve indoor lighting .

For plant to maintain good health with luxurious foliation , they need regular watering and excellent drainage .

If land conditions are keep too smashed , the bulbs or crown can develop fungal issues such as rot , causing an overall decline in health which can result in drooping leaves .

And if they ’re underwatered , the bulbs can wither and initiate to dry , causing curling or crispy brown leaf edges as well as wilting and yellowing .

To preserve optimal wet levels , ensure your bulbs are planted in well - draining dirt in containers with drainage holes .

After novel outgrowth emerges , pee as want to wield lightly moist soil .

you could keep the soil evenly moist or allow the top in to dry out between water lotion – but never allow the dirt to dry out out whole .

preserve even wet levels during the develop time of year , then cut watering when it ’s clock time for the bulbs to enter dormancy .

If you ’re new to pull through your incandescent lamp , be certain to read up onhow to thrust amaryllis bulbs to bloom indoorsfor a repetition ( or even better ! ) performance next year .

Bulbs shouldnotbe irrigate while they ’re torpid , but when it ’s metre for them to resume emergence , regress to a regular lachrymation schedule .

Lush, Luxurious Leaves

There ’s no demand to try if the leaves of your amaryllis are drooping , because it ’s usually easy to regenerate vigorous , handsome foliage .

Be certain to give your plant regular water applications during the growing time of year , but do n’t let the soil become waterlogged . And do n’t let it dry out either .

Keep yourwell - draining turn mediumin the “ Goldilocks zone ” of softly moist to lightly dry for the good floral displays and sound foliage .

And fertilize them regularly as well . The bulbs employ a lot of vigor during florescence and the nutrient contained in the small amount of soil held in indoor throne is eat quickly .

There ’s not much to do about leaves that yellow and droop as the incandescent lamp get in quiescency . you could avail the foliage do its job by go plants into a brightly ignite location after flowering to trance as much vim as potential .

Give them the eating , firing , and watering condition they involve , and you ’ll enjoy grand flowers plus lush , luxurious foliage !

And formore information about growing amaryllis , supply these guides to your reading list next :

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Lorna Kring