Blooms from Mamajacks' Coop - CHAPTER 2

I have seedpods of Chico x Minerva and Minerva x Chico from this coop. Most of my other cybister crosses didn't take, but I thought it might be interesting to cross against them. My record with amaryllis germination has not been good. I will try again, though. Is it better to keep them warm or cooler when germinating? Do they need light?

I read that you can float them in water until a tiny bulb forms, then plant them. Haven't tried it yet though.

dang grrrr.....i think i could even start seeds that way. lol.

Speaking of seeds, I collected ripe pods from Chico in February and Benfica last week. If anybody here's interested in trying them, shoot me a D-mail. All I need is your address, no postage or seeds in return.

I think I may have had my amaryllis seedling trays (on the heat mat and under lights) for a good 2-3 weeks before getting germination, but it looks like most of them came up (self-pollinated seeds from 'Scarlet Baby', also 'Bogota' x 'Scarlet Baby' and 'Bogota' x self). I've got some other pods ripening now. :-)

Doggone it, one of my amaryllis was shooting up a bloomstalk and a steenkin' slug ate the stem more than halfway through!
Now I won't get to see my purdy bloom till next year :(

If the bud looks pretty fat, cut the stem and put it in a vase... I used to think they wouldn't open up that way unless the main bud had already opened at least into separate bloom-buds, but I tried it with one that was probably not even done growing upward yet (still a single big bud when the stem broke), and it bloomed after a while!

Mine have been inside all Winter since I planted them and all but Chico have leaves that are about 3' long. Chico never produced leaves but did bloom twice, now it has leaves shooting up that are about 6" tall. Since it's starting to warm up, I'd appreciate anyone's advice about how to harden them off so I can eventually put them outside.

I may be overcautious, but I don't put tenders outside until around Memorial Day -- I wait for night temps to stabilize at 50+

Hardening off is just like for seedlings.. increasing exposure to sun, wind, and changing temperatures until they get used to it. For big pots that I don't want to move in at night, I wait for an especially mild forecast (not a lot hotter or colder than house temps) and put them under the canopy or under row cover for several days...

I'm hoping to get my amaryllises planted out in the deck bed this year -- a little fertilizer, regular watering, and I think they'll do better! The best growth I've had on them has been when I've planted them in the ground like that for the summer.

Thank you, Jill. I'm not too far from you. Our last frost date isn't til May 15th, so I'll heed your advice and won't start hardening them off til around Memorial Day. That's about the time our indoor and outdoor temps are about the same. When I hardened off seedlings, I've used those same criteria and also cut back on watering. Should I do the same for the Amaryllis?

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.
Susan

Unless you're currently keeping them constantly moist, I'd just keep watering as usual... I don't cut back on watering my seedlings when hardening off, either, but I just bottom water them inside, don't do any misting etc.

Critter, the bud had just cleared the bulb good and the stem is only about an inch long :(
Slimy buggers, I hate 'em.

yuck. I'm sorry.

If anybody's interested, I still have freshly harvested "Chico" and "Benfica" seeds.

Fruit, did you cross the 'Chico' with anything, or are those seeds self-pollinated? I'm interested but was hesitating because I've already got a "few" babies sprouting and a couple more seed pods ripening... let me know if you want any of my seeds in return!

Chico was self-pollinating, Critter. Let me know if you'd like an envy of seeds. Thanks for the offer but don't need anything in return.

ooohhh... twist my arm! LOL Thanks, Fruit... you've got Dmail!

You're welcome, Critter. Glad I didn't have to twist too hard.....LOL

:-)

We're talking amaryllises... gotta admit, arm twisting wasn't required at all! LOL

did any of you get ryan's email regarding australian amaryllis?

Not me.

if you want to contact phoenixryan on daves i am sure he would send you an email. he is getting up a group buy for australian amaryllis.

Happy Birthday, vossner!

happy birthday vossner. hope you had a happy day.

Vossner, I was about to miss your birthday, but in the nick of time I want to send you the very best for the next year. Patti

bestas wishes received and thoroughly enjoyed. thanks!

lost all :(

oh, so sorry! what happened?