Your amaryllis bulbs stay good unplanted for several weeks to a few months when you store them the right way. Keep them cool, dry, and away from light so they don't sprout too soon. Under ideal conditions you can wait up to 12 weeks before planting. But sooner is always better for your blooms.
I deal with this every December when amaryllis bulbs arrive as holiday gifts. Last year I got three bulbs in the same week and could only pot one right away. The other two went into a paper bag in my cool basement at about 48°F (9°C). I planted one after two weeks and the other after four weeks. Both bloomed fine but the one that waited longer had shorter stalks.
Your unplanted bulb burns through its energy reserves even without soil or water. It is a living thing that keeps using up sugars and starches from its last growing season. The longer it sits in a bag or box, the less fuel it has left for you. A bulb you plant right away almost always gives you taller stalks and bigger flowers. One that sat around for two months will still bloom but with less power behind it.
Good amaryllis bulb storage before planting means finding a spot between 40-50°F (4-10°C) per Amaryllis.com. Your basement, an unheated garage, or the crisper drawer of your fridge all work. Wrap the bulb in newspaper or put it in a paper bag with some dry peat moss. Never use a sealed plastic bag. Trapped moisture invites mold and rot that can kill your bulb fast.
When storing unplanted amaryllis you need to keep them far from any fruit. Apples and bananas give off ethylene gas. This gas sterilizes the flower buds already formed inside your bulb. You end up with a bulb that grows leaves just fine but never makes a single flower stalk. I keep my stored bulbs in a separate part of the basement away from all food items to avoid this problem.
Before you plant a stored bulb, give it a good check. Squeeze it gently and it should feel firm like an onion. Soft squishy spots mean rot has set in. You can peel away a small soft spot on the outer layer if the inner tissue is still white and firm. But if the whole bulb feels mushy or smells sour, throw it away. It won't give you healthy growth.
Your best move is to plant your amaryllis bulbs as soon as you get them. Every extra day in storage costs the bulb a tiny bit of energy. That energy would have gone toward taller stalks and more flowers for you. If you must wait, keep things cool and dry. Check for mold every week. Aim to get those bulbs in soil within 2-4 weeks for the strongest bloom show.
In my experience I have stored bulbs for up to six weeks with decent results. After six weeks you start to see a real drop in stalk height and flower count. Your bulb still blooms but it won't put on the same show as a fresh one would.
Treat your unplanted bulbs like fresh produce from the grocery store. The fresher they are when they go into soil, the better your flowers will look. If you get a bulb as a gift and can't plant it that same day, wrap it up and put it somewhere cool. Check on it every few days for any signs of mold or early sprouting. A little care during storage goes a long way toward making sure you get the full show when those blooms finally open up for you.
Read the full article: Amaryllis Care: How to Grow and Rebloom
