Oh, Lora! Thanks for the tip. I have some doubles but can rarely find a stigma to use. This is good stuff!

I tried this once before, but it didn't work for me. Thanks for the encouragement to try again!

Uggggghhhh!!! My SA doubles are all done blooming and I have not been successful in pollinating any one of them. Thank you so much for that tip. I will definitely try that on my Dutch and Japanese doubles.

Hello
It has been mentioned earlier but I have not tried.
Is it cut and dab or you wait for some time,any way let us try it and report.
Bill, any suggestions ?
ARIF

Hi Lora,

Lora
Good to hear from you again. You always share so much useful information. It's like a class room for Amaryllis propagation and growing. How's your home repairs coming along?
I have an Aphrodite double bloom getting ready to open. I'll try to pollinate it with your instructions. I hope I'm understanding it correctly. You cut the stigma down some. To a stub is it? Then dab pollen on the cut end?
The seeds you gave me , some are germinating now. They took a while but they're outside in a make shift green house. They were outside under the porch awning until a week ago as it was in the 80's. Now it's in the 70's in the daytime.
I just harvested two Minerva pods. I wonder if I should plant the seeds and keep them indoors and put them outside (under the porch awning) on the days we have temps in the 80's? I never put them in the straight sun. They always germinate under the porch awning. I had such good luck in that area I hate to try another one.
But I never tried to germinate in Feb before. This is Florida so we have pretty good luck, even in Feb with a lot of seeds germinating due to the hot days we get even in Feb sometimes here. But, I don't have a heat mat and I wonder how well the seeds will do now. I don't know if it's better to plant them fresh, even in winter, or store them till March when it gets really hot here. How do we store them anyway? In a little paper coin envelope and that put inside a tightly closed jar in the fridge? If so how long do they last that way?
Do they germinate better when planted very fresh versus stored? Or should I try and germinate some for an experient now?
I could get my hubby to spend the $ 40.00+ for a heat mat. If I thought not many amaryllis seeds would germinate this time of year. Being it's usually so warm here most of the time, it's hard to even find heat mats in garden supply stores here. I saw one last year at Home Depot, but not this year. I called one place, I think it was Lowe's Garden center, and the person didn't even know what a seed heat mat was, even when I explained it to them if was for germinating and keeping seedlings warm. They were like, "huh"?, "Oh no we don't have anything like that here". As though it was a rather odd, rarely asked question.
Oh well.
Thanks for all the helpful into on polinating and growing amaryllis. I printed out the info and often go to my folder to re-read. So Prof. Lora, please keep enlightening us. Some of us need all the help we can get.
Cheryl

Gee, my double Bolero is easy as pie to get to. What's especially nice is the stamen are curling up, perfect to hold dabs of pollen. Lora-you always have wonderful things to share with us. Thanks again! p.s. I passed some Lil Pinkie seedlings on to Raydio. I can not get over how they keep producing new babies!

Hi Robert,
I just gotta spread the fun :) Dabble at it and let us know what happens!
Hi Elizabeth,
Please do try again:) It wont always work but the chance is better than if you don't.
Hi Maria,
(((hugs))) Just keep on trying,one of them is sure to give it up :) That is Blossom Peacock in the photo, I bet you have her in your line up :O
Hi Arif,
I am delighted to see you back :)
Yes, Bill had posted about it but it's lost somewhere back among the pages.Thought I'd bring this back around since it is the season. I put the pollen directly in without any wait. You have some very beautiful flowers to work with,I hope you have great success setting seed:)
Hi Cheryl,
I thank you. Home repairs are going very slowly :( I am still shoveling plaster,coal dust,blown fiberglass insulation and the assorted debris of the boy's bedrooms into big buckets for the trip to the dumpster. It raises a horrid cloud of dust that clogs masks but I don't dare work without one. It's also turned very cold and that is not helping. I did take today off from shoveling & went to Lowes to get a new sink & commode for upstairs. Our Lowes did have seedling heat mats for $38.99 with a tray,cover and inserts. I wonder if it's a regional item or if they carry them throughout the chain? I would go to the store and look in the seed supplies. The guy on the phone may not have a clue.
For pollinating,yes,cut the stigma to a stub and put the pollen right on.
I'm glad those seeds are starting up for you :) You know best what your weather is going to be and the nooks & crannies that are good for seed starting. Maybe Cindeea or Elizabeth can give you some warm climate tips ?
For storing seeds,I put them in envelopes and keep them in a cabinet. It seems to be best to plant right away. If you hold them for awhile it seems they germinate slower but the count is still good.
BTW, that Appleblossom pod is still growing :) Keep your fingers crossed for another 2 weeks and more seed will be on the way :)
Hi Cindeea,
Bolero is a real beauty! I don't think I've seen a double Bolero,where did you get it? Please do post photos if you can :) When the stigma flips up it's ready for pollen-are you crossing with Lemon Lime? That could be an interesting combination!
Lil Pinkie has turned out to be quite a good mother.I believe she is a 4th generation selection & hard culling is definately paying off. I have seedlings that are holding 6 good size leaves after dropping the first 4 baby leaves,they are on track for blooming at 2 years,yippee! Could you tell me the aprox size of the bulbs you sent Robert? I've not poked in the troughs yet, I'm wondering how they grow in a warmer-better climate.
I didn't forget about the puniceum seeds,promise! There are pods ripening as I type and you will get a nice fresh batch soon.

Lora-DUH, I do not have a Double Bolero. It is just that the flowers are so 'meaty' and full and the scapes were so very close together the petals were struggling to unfurl. It really looked like a double. But now that I placed an olive oil dipping dish to spead the scapes, between them, they are opening a bit more. Eight flowers all smooshed together was quite a challenge for this plant! I am crossing it with my Lemon and Lime. A couple time on each so I can get some combinations here. I also crossed L&L with Red Lion back and forth...we shall see...well in a few years anyway! Thanks for remembering the puniceum seeds. I will be out of commission for a bit and seed planting on the patio will help me have something to play with. Thanks so much.

thanks lora! great tip. you're like a sensei.

Any Luck lora?

I am resurrecting this great post from Lora, since we had some conversation on another thread about pollinating doubles. As always, Lora's info is invaluable!

Cheryl-I am anxious to know did you have any success with your double Aphrodite? I have one coming into bloom and want to try Lora's method on it.