Philodendron

In my experience, depending on the variety and how quickly the bulb decides to wake up, amaryllis typically bloom anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks after potting. If you're dreaming of amaryllis flowers for Christmas, I'd go with an early-blooming, South African–grown variety and get it planted by early November. For New Year's blooms, pop that bulb in early to mid-November.

I've found that bulbs from the Netherlands tend to take a bit longer to bloom, but trust me, they bring so much cheer when they finally flower in January or beyond. (Garden centers and catalogs with a nice selection of amaryllis varieties usually point out the difference between South African and Dutch bulbs for you.)

When you're ready to plant your amaryllis bulb, pick a pot that's about two inches wider than the bulb itself. And please—make sure it has drainage holes. I learned that one the hard way!

I like to use a quick-draining potting mix and tuck the bulb in so its top third stays above the surface—yes, it looks a little odd, but that's how they like it! Water the pot well and find a warm spot where temps stay above 60˚F. The warmer it is, the faster it'll sprout.

Here's the hardest part—don't water again until you actually see growth poking out from the top of the bulb. Once things get going, move the pot somewhere sunny and warm, and water whenever the top inch of mix feels dry. Give it a good soak, enough that water runs right through the drainage hole.

What I love about amaryllis is that flowers usually open within about four weeks after that top growth starts. To keep the stem from doing that awkward lean toward the light, just rotate the pot each day. A little stake can be a lifesaver too.