Amaryllis:  when do you cut off the leaves?  Do you take the bulb out of its pot?  If yes, what is the time line?  If possible, give a timeline for amaryllis from planting to bloom.

Hi, Alice

It depends if you are trying to force a bloom in a pot and when it last bloomed. If it is in a pot from last year, then you've missed the window to force it into dormancy and rebloom for the holidays. However, that may not be your goal.

In the Houston area, amaryllis can be planted after they bloom from a holiday pot. They can naturalize very well, however, the natural bloom time for amaryllis is in the spring. 

To get a potted amaryllis to bloom begins the moment the flowers start fading. Whenever it is done blooming, trim the flowers off first. Then, cut the stalk when it starts to fade. The leaves should never be cut unless they have faded or died. Leaves are your amaryllis' source of nutrients to the bulb. They grow well as houseplants or in the ground all year. Water and feed regularly.

However, to get it to bloom well the next year, you can plant outdoors in the ground when temperatures allow (after it is acclimated to the light transition from indoors to outdoors) or plant in a pot with fresh potting soil. The soil should be moist, but not too wet. You can fertilize every six weeks during this time. 

Stop watering and by the end of August. This will initiate a dormancy. The foliage should die back naturally, not be cut.  If it's in the ground, you can pot it up in September. After the soil has dried out and the leaves die, you can remove the bulb and store in dry, cool, and dark space for about 2 months. 

Repot the bulb in fresh potting soil, start watering and it will start to grow again. Keep cool, indirect light - but bright and it will bloom in about 5-8 weeks (after you pot it again.)

Keep in mind that you don't necessarily have to force dormancy and keep out of the pot to get it to rebloom. That is most helpful when you want it to bloom as a specific time, like Christmas.

Here are a few links with a little more information:
Amaryllis Care | University of Maryland Extension (umd.edu)
Amaryllis, Hippeastrum – Wisconsin Horticulture
All About Amaryllis | Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Webster County (iastate.edu)