A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2005 amaryllis

I have an amaryllis bulb that I saved from last year. It is still firm but the outside is brownish in color and sort of "crispy". Should I attempt planting this year? Thanks!

Sure! I just planted mine a week and a half ago. If you need instructions, let us know. I have to go to work now and won't have time to look them up till later. Some else may know. If not, I'll get back to you.

Terrific -- It's now planted and watered and placed in a northern exposure. It's my understanding that they like a fairly "tight fit" when potted and that I shouldn't water again until I see some green. Hope mine does as well as yours.

I just put mine to bed earlier this month. They'll start showing a bud, or leaves on the babies, around Feb-March, live outside all summer, and die back in October. They're really easy to cross polenate and grow from seed, but it takes about 4 years until they flower.

Now that's something new to me -- Amaryllis from seed. No wonder you're listed as "Great Gardner". Thanks so much for the info. By the way, can I take seeds from my plant if it blooms again this year? If so, any advice on doing this would be appreciated

They are self fertile, so even if you only have one plant, you can get it to seed. You have to pollenate them by hand - I use a little paintbrush that came with my son's watercolor kit. Then you just wait. The flower petal part will die leaving the main stem from the bulb, the 4 (or 3 or 2) little stems that went to the actual flower, and the "blob" (pod?) at the end with the developing seeds. It's not particularly pretty at this point, but so what? I didn't look so great when I was pregnant, either. Anyway, when the pod-thing starts to turn tannish brown and get dry, you've got viable seed! If you know someone who has a different colored one blooming when yours is, bring home some of its pollen in a baggie (or whatever) and cross them. That'll make waiting the few years for the flowers (what color will they be?) more interesting. Good luck!