Amaryllis Bulb Potting and Planting
Updated: Mar 23
Duration: 30 minutes
Difficulty Level: Moderate
This activity brought in the most participants so far! When I arrived, there were about 6 residents waiting in the activity room with 2 more who came to join us as we started the session. It seemed like everyone was excited and ready to plant a flower bulb and watch it grow! As I am now at my sixth activity with everyone, I know their names and what to expect from the residents who regularly participate. I brought a plethora of amaryllis bulbs for the residents to choose from and it was great to see them all planting their own bulbs.
Understanding The Benefits
Planting and growing is holistic, requiring physical skills to tend, cognitive skills to plan and sequence, and investment/responsibility in the process of gardening (Wagenfeld & Atchison, 2014). Each resident picked their own bulb, scooped the soil into their pot, and placed the amaryllis bulb inside to grow. This activity brings the outdoors to the residents with soil and bulbs that they can watch grow and bloom. Therapeutic horticulture such as this improves quality of life, well-being, and overall health (Panțiru et al., 2024).
Step By Step Process
Pre-activity preparation
I was lucky enough to get all of my materials donated from a local greenhouse and from my grandma. I got the bulbs and pots from my grandma who annually grows amaryllis bulbs indoors during the winter and she was more than happy to donate about 15 bulbs. She gave me advice for prepping the bulbs, so before the day of the activity, I soaked the bulbs in water for 8-12 hours and peeled off any dead layers around the base of the sprout. My grandma also had plenty of extra pots that she gave me for the residents. A local greenhouse that I got in contact with also donated a large bag of high quality soil for the bulbs.
Choose your bulb and pot
I brought the bulbs with pipe cleaners the color of the flower expected to bloom from them, tied around the bulbs. Each resident chose the bulb that they preferred and a pot for the size of the bulb. I made sure to advise and check that the larger bulbs were put into larger pots and vice versa for the small ones. Planter/pot saucers were also provided for the residents to keep under the potted bulbs to catch soil and water.
Add soil to pot
Residents enjoyed scooping soil and pouring it into their pots. The bulbs should not be completed covered, so they first had to fill up the pots before sticking their bulb in. Once the bulb was at a proper level, the residents covered the base of the bulb with soil, leaving the top uncovered.
Place potted bulbs by a window
Due to a previous activity where we had some over watering issues, I suggested to the residents that they place their bulbs in a location that I prepared beforehand for them. With clearance from staff, I had the residents bring their bulbs to an empty apartment in the facility where a table was set up by the windows looking out into the courtyard. A couple residents decided to bring their bulbs back to their room while the others loved the idea of keeping them all in one place.
Key Benefits of this Activity
Cognition: Through this project, I specifically wanted to work with the older adult population in order to bring them the benefits of gardening. Studies have shown that even a 20-minute gardening activity can increase levels of a specific protein that stimulates neuron growth and survival (Park et al., 2019). Gardening, even just a simple bulb is intricate and engages several cognitive processes from problem-solving and planning to effectively grow a living plant (Voznyuk, 2024). Many older adults live with dementia, and regular commitment with gardening activities has been shown to improve memory performance as well as attention (Chang et al., 2021).
Physical/Physiological: For older adults, staying active is essential for maintaining physical mobility (Thompson, 2018). While this activity was accomplished in sitting for most residents, their dexterity and hand strength is still targeted when planting the bulbs and maintaining them after (NobleHorizons, 2024). A study done in Japan found that those who view plants had EEG readings that showed reduced blood pressure, pulse rate, and muscle tension (Thompson, 2018). Every couple of days, the residents will need to make their way to the room with the bulbs to water them, requiring simple physical activity. I would not be surprised if some residents simply go to see their bulbs regularly, increasing their physical activity.
Psychological/Emotional: Growing plants has been found to not only reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, but also provides a sense of purpose and achievement through the time they spend with plants, which also reduces mental fatigue (NobleHorizons, 2024). Older adults can receive benefits from viewing elements of a garden, so having these residents actively grow and garden can provide relaxation and distraction from daily hassles (Scott et al., 2020).
Sensory: The various textures and smells of the soil and bulb can contribute to improved cognition by engaging numerous parts of the brain through sensory stimulation (NobleHorizons, 2024). I saw a couple residents feeling the soil between their fingers and once the bulbs bloom, they'll be able to smell their flowers.
Social: Participating in regular activities gives residents the opportunity to connect with others and decrease the sense of isolation and loneliness (NobleHorizons, 2024). There were various times throughout this activity that I heard residents sharing stories about previous experiences growing houseplants. I loved hearing them share memories and even seeing assist others who were struggling or having a difficult time. Social connections are crucial for emotional well-being and finding a sense of community (Thompson, 2018).
Resident comments:
"Here I'll help hold your pot still while you pour in the dirt."
"Mine already has a little bit of green coming out of the top!"
Conclusion
The residents and I are all looking forward to seeing the bulbs grow and hopefully bloom in the coming weeks. I especially enjoyed this activity as it was a bit more slow moving and I got to help each resident one-on-one with filling their pots and planting their bulbs. Next week we're doing a similar project with succulents, and I'm sure they will enjoy it as well!
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