Hi MrBrownThumb,
I'm glad you got some seed to set! You should be able to feel a bump in a good seed. To do a quick fertility test,wrap 2 or 3 seeds in damp paper towel. Put in a baggie and find them a spot between 75-80 degrees. You should know in 2-3 days but dont rule them infertile until at least a week has passed. Lora

Lora,

Thanks for the reply. I was worried you were going to mention that 'bump'. LOL. I noticed it in Hans' seed pics and didn't see or really feel the bump in mine. Well, so far it's only one seed pod and I have 7 more to go maybe my luck will be better with the other pods. But I will put them in a baggie and see if there is a chance they are viable.

I had with full intention presented these FRESH seeds in that manner that the flash light would make the bumpy embryo maximally visible.

However, the embryo dries up very quickly when the seeds are exposed to the air - and afterwards it is too late to differentiate easily between "with" and "without bump"
However, the papery foils of the other seeds without embryo tend to have a brighter brown color.

Hans-Werner

Thanks for the info Hans.

What's funny is that I placed three seeds inside a baggie to see if they were germinate. I just checked on them and the three seeds have a "bump" but I can't remember if it was there when I placed the seeds.

Does mositure and humidity rehydrate the embryo after it was exposed to air and maybe dried? I think I'm going to put three more in and see if they develop the bump because I can't remember if they were there before or not. I'll post again if I get the same results.

After sitting in the warm moist baggie the embryos are far more pronounced, and noticeable in some cases where none were visible before.

Woo hoo.

:0)

Now to just wait for a couple of years to see the result of my cross. I hope I can wait that long.

After a few days in moist substrate the enbryo will be completely rehydrated, bumpy and firm again. If not then the embryo has already died during the storage.

Hi MrBrownThumb,
Any sprouts yet?
Lora

Once the seeds are sprouted, they're ready to plant, right? I've got some stuck in a plastic bag with a damp papertowel, taped to my window.

What is the viability of Amaryllis seed? Is it that delicate?

Dave
Milwaukee

Lora,

So far no joy with the seeds. I put some in a baggie and they haven't done anything. I also planted some in soil so we'll see what happens. I think I may not be keeping them warm enough.

Dave I'm not sure how delicate they are but out of the couple of hundred I have planted or put in the baggie so far I've got zip. LOL.

MBT, try my doughnut container greenhouse method. It worked so good with my seeds. It's so simple too.

Hi MrBrownThumb,
Dont give up hope! If they aren't rotting they are still possibly viable. Try the top of the fridge or a furnace room to bump the heat up. Or,if you are daring, put them in the oven :O I've pushed balky seed into germinating by putting trays in the oven with the light on. DON'T turn the oven on,the lightbulb or a pilot light will keep them at about 85 degrees. :) Lora
BTW, what cross is this?

Mariava,

I decided to try a green house thingy too. I used a salad container from Wendy's which I think is pretty similar to the plastic donut containers. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Lora,

Oh I won't give up on them. I think the problem is the weird weather we've been having here in Chicago. This winter I used the vent in the floor as a heating mat to sprout; Brugsmansias, Citrus, Cherimoya, Holly Hocks, Cacti&Succulents, Datura. But lately we've been having unseasonable warm weather and the heat hasn't been on as much or as strong. So I think that hasn't helped much. But I'll keep the faith.

The cross was a with a red lion and some NOID I got from Target. If you check out the link the second pic is the pic of the parents. Nothing fancy but I just wanted to see what would happen with them.

Here is a link that might be useful: MyBlog-Pic of Both Amaryllis

In case anyone is interested; I had zero germination with the baggie method but I am starting to get sprouts in my seeds that I put in soil and set over the heating vent.

Yay!!! Congatulations MBT...now you're an Amaryllis Daddy!

Good job,MBT!
The baggie method works best if you can put it on or in something with even heat. I think the mass of the soil holds the temperatures a little more evenly in a pot. Lora

Maybe it is too wild of a try, but does anyone know if I want to plant my seeds out open air, under a mini green house, what is the minimum night and day temperature that is sufficient for them already to sprout and live on? I want to plant them out, but cannot decide when to do so.

Soultan...I have no records of temps. that my seeds germinated successfully. All I know is that during winter, I place the "doughnut container" on top of my heat vent which gives out air at 70s and not lower than that. My house temp. is always set at 72F.

I have never planted seeds outside here in VA for we can get temp. dips at night sometimes 20 degrees colder than daytime. I always start my seeds indoors where temps. are in the constant 70s.

I have a seed starting handbook, and while I can't locate specific hippeastrum information, it does say that most seeds germinate with soil temperatures between 75 and 90 degrees F, or 24 and 32 degrees C.

I use a cheap Harbor Freight heat mat and bottom heat all my germinating seeds. But you really don't need a heat mat... a heat vent or a large appliance that gives off heat will work just fine. Refrigerators are usually warm on top, as are televisions and monitors... just be careful not to spill water or soil on an appliance, or completely block any vents that are needed to let heat escape.