Several types of bulbs can be used for these lessons. We recommend teaching the lessons during winter or early spring, as this is the time the bulbs will be most available and when they will grow the best. Bulbs can be purchased in the fall and refrigerated until they are planted. Amaryllis bulbs are highly recommended. Since they are expensive (approx $10-15 per bulb), you may want to purchase only a few and study them as a class. Standard and dwarf varieties are available. On the amaryllis, the flower bud usually appears first, with the leaves emerging from the bulb later. Each "bud" can give rise to several flowers.

Narcissus bulbs can also be grown. Some people are allergic to paperwhite narcissus in bloom, and may not be allergic to the yellow variety. Narcissus is a smaller bulb. It grows a cluster of leaves first, then produces a cluster of flower buds.

Grape hyacinth bulbs are very small. They produce several leaves first. Several weeks later they may produce buds on a flowering stalk. We have not used standard hyacinth bulbs in the classroom, because they contain skin irritants.

Growing bulbs in the classroom:

We recommend teaching these lessons during the winter/early spring months (January-March). The bulbs are planted in potting soil and watered regularly, as you would for a house plant. They should have a good light source, and cool temperatures are best.

Summer and fall care:

We recommend starting with new narcissus or grape hyacinth bulbs each year. Amaryllis bulbs can be saved and reused as described below.

After the amaryllis blossoms fade, cut off the flowering stalk (this can be done several inches above the bulb if the leaves are in the way). The bulb with leaves should be tended as a house plant or can be put outside for the summer. The plants should not be in full sun. They should be watered as any houseplant would be. The leaves will probably not change very much over the summer.

In late September, bring the pots indoors and store the plants in your basement or other cool dry place. Let them dry out; the leaves will shrivel and dry. When it is time to start teaching the lessons, bring the bulbs to a light location and begin watering them. You should see growth in a few days or a week. (The dried bulbs can be removed from soil so that students can make initial observations of the bulb before planting.)

Amaryllis bulbs can be kept this way for several years. Smaller bulbs might not flower the next year. The leaves growing and living through the summer provide the energy to the bulb to develop a new flower bud or buds in the bulb for the next year. The dry period followed by watering provides the cue for the growth and flowering the next year.

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