Waxed bulbs appeal to me for a lot of reasons, mostly because they are hands off.
You really cant screw them up; you just put them someplace and walk away.
They require no watering, just a little sunlight.
Bulbs themselves, though, are actually quite inexpensive.
Even this late in the season, I scored three giant amaryllis bulbs for $21 fromLowes.
Most people who force bulbs inside dont actually end up planting them outsidethey just get tossed after they bloom.
It’s also worth noting that if you wax the bulbs, you cant ever compost them.
Like an onion, you simply pull away the outside to reveal the center.
Cut off the roots
Bulbs have whats called a basal plate that the roots grow off of.
Its also helpful to give the bulb a flat side to rest on.
Using a serrated knife, cut above the roots but below the bulb sphere.
You wont want it waterlogged.
Place the bulb on a towel and let it air dry for a few hours.
Dont worry, the bulb isnt going to dry out; just its surface will.
Ive read reviews that suggest you could use any wax, but I prefer soy wax.
(Or you might use uncolored soy wax, which is is translucent.)
You probably have a few around, and they’re microwaveable.
Otherwise, getting the wax out of a pot you intend to use for something else will be miserable.
As the wax melts, you’ll need to add more.
Youre going to stop about an inch and a half from the shoot at the top.
Once it stops dripping, move to the can of water and quickly dunk the bulb.
Move fast or youll get lines in the wax.
This should solidify the wax.
Use a kitchen towel to gently dry it off.
Water on the bulb won’t let new wax stick to it.
In total, you’ll want to dunk each bulb three or four times.
The wax will pool a little at the base.
Now, place the bulb near a window and watch it grow.
Youll see the sprout happening within 10 days or so.
