Hippeastrum 'Royal Red'

Our potted Hippeastrum ‘Royal Red’ in 12cm pots are the ultimate “plug-and-play” option for winter colour indoors. Each pot contains a carefully grown bulb, already settled into its compost and usually carrying two strong buds, so you can see exactly what you’re getting before it even opens. There’s no wrestling with compost or guessing which way up the bulb should go – all the careful work has been done for you.

Simply place your Hippeastrum in a bright, warm spot indoors – a windowsill or table near a window is ideal – and keep the compost just lightly moist, never soggy. Within a few weeks the buds will steadily extend and unfurl into large, velvety, rich red trumpets held on a sturdy stem, creating a striking focal point in any room. Turn the pot occasionally so the stem grows straight rather than leaning towards the light.

Once flowering is underway, your ‘Royal Red’ will provide a generous display over several weeks. After the blooms fade, you can continue to enjoy it as a handsome foliage plant while the bulb quietly gathers strength for another year. With a little care and patience, this compact 12cm pot can become an annual winter highlight, bringing reliable colour and a touch of drama indoors when the garden outside is still fast asleep.

Planting Instructions

When your Hippeastrum arrives
Your ‘Royal Red’ comes pre-planted in a 12cm pot with the bulb already at the correct depth, so there’s no need for extra compost straight away.

1. Unpack & position
   • Take the pot out of all packaging and place it on a waterproof saucer.
   • Stand it in a bright spot indoors, such as a windowsill or table near a window.
   • Avoid strong, direct midday sun and cold draughts (no porchways or right next to an outside door).
2. Temperature
   • Ideal temperature is around 18–22°C.
   • Try not to let it drop below 10°C.
3. Watering
   • When the bulb is just starting into growth, keep the compost only lightly moist.
   • Water from the top, then let any excess drain away – don’t leave the pot standing in water.
   • As the flower stem and leaves develop, water a little more regularly, but still let the surface of the compost dry slightly between waterings.
   • Overwatering is the quickest way to rot the bulb, so err on the dry side.
4. Feeding
   • Once the buds are visible, you can feed every 2–3 weeks with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at the recommended strength.
   • Stop feeding when flowering has finished and growth begins to slow.
5. During flowering
   • Turn the pot a little every few days so the stem grows straight rather than leaning towards the light.
   • If the stem becomes tall and top-heavy, pop a small stake into the compost and tie the stem loosely for support.
6. After flowering
   • When the blooms fade, snip off the spent flowers but leave the stem and leaves to continue growing.
   • Keep the plant in a bright spot and water/ feed as a normal houseplant for a few months – this is when the bulb is recharging for next year.
   • In late summer, gradually reduce watering and allow the leaves to yellow and die back naturally.
   • Let the bulb rest in its pot in a cool, dry place for about 8–10 weeks, then bring it back into warmth and light and resume light watering to start the cycle again.
7. Repotting (optional)
   • If you wish to keep it for another season, you can repot the bulb in late summer or early autumn into fresh compost and a slightly larger pot (no more than 2–3cm wider).
   • Use a free-draining compost (multipurpose with added grit or a bulb compost).
   • Plant with the top third of the bulb above the compost level

Plant Details

Flowering Period:

typically December to February indoors

Height:

approx. 45–60cm (18–24in) in flower