(white Amaryllis bulb from kit)When you receive or buy a boxed Amaryllis bulb from a kit you may find that the bulb is white or pale colored. A white Amaryllis bulb doesn't mean that there is anything specifically wrong with your bulb or that your Amaryllis will have a white flower. If you followed the tips on buying Amaryllis bulbs in a kit the bulb should be fine.
Why are the Amaryllis leaves white?
As you can see from the photo above the leaves of the Amaryllis are white as is the scape. The reason for this is not because of a defect with the bulb but because the bulb started to sprout inside of a dark box and hasn't received much if any light. If you look closely at the shorter leaf there is a little bit of green on the tip from where a small amount of light entered the box from one of the air holes that are cut into the side of the bulb kit box.
How to make the white Amaryllis leaves green.
If the Amaryllis bulb is white you should be careful not to expose it to very bright light right away. Plants can get sunburn just like humans so an Amaryllis with white leaves or flower stalk should be gradually exposed to bright sunlight. Follow the instructions on how to pot an Amaryllis bulb and then place your bulb in a bright room or window where it doesn't get direct sunlight. In a couple of days the white leaves and flower scape will start to turn green and when the green becomes darker you can then expose it to brighter light. As the leaves start to turn their normal color you should rotate the pot so the leaves, bulb and scape are evenly exposed to light.
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