New Mexico gardeners can get a jump on spring by growing flowering plants indoors. Amaryllis, an exotic, tropical plant, offers showy trumpet-shaped flowers to usher in the season. The amaryllis was once popular, then lagged for a while, and now is back in favor. I've seen large amaryllis bulbs for sale at many nurseries recently. As a tropical plant, the amaryllis doesn't tolerate freezing temperatures.
Plant amaryllis bulbs in pots, leaving the necks of the bulbs exposed above the soil.
It may take a couple of months to reach flowering stage, though. The bulb sends up a spike or stalk that may reach 2 feet in height. White, pink or red trumpet-shaped flowers form near the top of the stalk. Place the pots in brightly lit locations, preferably exposed to full sun. To maintain the plants from year to year, expose them to cooler, drier conditions in the fall.