An amaryllis can flourish with plenty of sun.

The amaryllis is one of the most beautiful plants of the holiday season. The lovely bell shaped flowers brighten our window sills for many days. We often see the box containing the amaryllis bulb, container and soil in grocery stores, hardware stores or garden centers.

Amaryllis are easy to grow. They almost always have two stalks and with usually three flowers on each stalk. Inside the box is a bulb, a container and a large, dry circle of soil.

Following directions on the box, put the dry soil in a large pan of warm water. Fill the container with the damp soil to about 4 inches from the top of the container. Place the bulb in the soil with the roots down into the soil with half of the bulb above the soil. When you see the green stalk appear from the bulb, keep the plant watered. Be careful when you water. The container does not have drainage.

The stalk of the amaryllis is fragile. Treat it gently if you need to move the plant. You can put a stake in the container and very gently, tie with a little raffia. Amaryllis love the sun. As the stalk leans toward the sun, carefully turn the plant to keep the stalk straight.

Many gardeners place a little raffia or moss on the soil to make the soil and bulb more attractive. Garden Centers may have containers for sale that will fit the container and amaryllis.

Family members, the school classroom and any office or place of business will enjoy watching the amaryllis bloom. All the amaryllis need is a sunny window and careful watering. I always look for leftovers as the holidays come to an end planting a new bulb as the old one fades.

Rebecca Norton Ryan is Penn State Extension Master Gardener and a member of Warren Garden Club.