Ooooops...I miscounted the flowers of the first scape. Instead of 7, there are 10 flowers. That's 3 more flowers to pollinate. That's a LOT of seedpods if ever. Would all if not most of these possible seedpods pull through? This is my first experience with so much flowers in a scape. How much seedpods can a scape support?

Maria-that IS a lot!! I use bamboo poles to support ALL my scapes, whether they seem top heavy or not. It really helps to keep the scapes from bending.

Maria,

My Sugar Candy opened and it has at least 7 blooms also. I am thrilled with the tiny flowers, so delicate and pastel with that bright green throat.

The seed pods will most likely be quite small. I harvested some Ruby Meyer seeds, and I couldn't believe how tiny the pods were. Still, there were seeds and they were black and plump!

Elizabeth...I surely hope that the seedpods will be small. I cannot imagine 10 seedpods in a scape. I am running out of pollens of small flowered varieties (non-diploid). I started pollinating some flowers with diploid pollens last night. So far 10 flowers are pollinated, 7 more to go. Let's see which pollen would be lucky.

My La Paz has formed seedpods from Papilio, Lemon Lime and Gilmar II pollens. I am so amazed at Gilmar, most varieties seems to accept it's pollen wether triploid or diploid. Have you tried using your Gilmar pollens?

I am trying the Gilmar pollen on mostly diploid varieties. Since you mentioned that it works for others, I shall also give that a try.

My Supreme Gardens pods are not small, but I wouldn't call them huge either.

Charisma is carrying six tightly knit pods, and I really don't know how all of those can possibly make it, but we will see. I will let nature take its course on that one.

I suspect that due the size and shape of the blooms that Sugar Candy is diploid, but I have been known to be wrong. As Lora noted, Santa Cruz appears to be tetraploid and its bloom is small, so who would have thought...

This is fun, isn't it?

Elizabeth...I started just like Cindeea here about this 'ploidy-doidy' thing. I'm trying to learn and catch up as fast as I can for the supposedly diploids (small-flowered varieties anyway) are now putting out scapes.

I try to cross diploid with diploid but like experimenting too. Jade Serpent which was confirmed by Mr. Barnhoorn as NOT a diploid. I tried it's pollens with Papilio and harvested 62 seeds with 7 dotted ones. I planted all of them anyway in pure coco peat this time as my Papilio does so well in this medium for me. Did Lora get to send you some Jade Serpent pollens?

Cupido pollens on Sugar Candy failed. I will try to pollinate another flower again.

Maria, if Jade Serpant is NOT diploid, then 47 viable seeds from Papilio is more than expected. Papilio is definitely diploid, and despite this, Hans has been able use Papilio with Tets for a few seeds.

When Mr. Barhoorn told you that it is NOT diploid, did he indicate what ploidy it is?

Yes, Lora sent me some Jade Serpent, and I am anxious to try more of it. We will see what happens.

Right now, I am sure that Exotic Star MUST be diploid. Misty is definitely diploid. Of course most of the cybisters are diploid.

I tend to use cybister pollen to determine ploidy this year. That is my main goal, to understand more about it and determine which is which. Certainly, flower size is an indication, but that does not always hold true.

If I hadn't already learned about ploidy from daylily hybridization, I would not be harvesting as many beautiful seeds as I am harvesting right now.

So, please do continue to learn about ploidy, and enjoy!

Has anyone placed amaryllis pollen under a microscope from a know tet and diploid to check it's size? In daylilys tet pollen is always larger than diploid and is a fairly accurate way to test for their poly.

Elizabeth...Yes I harvested 62 PapilioXJade Serpent seeds but I don't know if they are viable or not. That is why I planted all of them. If they sprout then I'd be very happy. If not, it's a lesson well learned for me.

Unfortunately, Mr. Barnhoorn did not say what the ploidy of Jade Serpent is. I just asked him if it is Diploid and he responded that it is not. I haven't emailed him for quite a while, I'll ask him next time.

Another pollination failure with Sugar Candy...Jade Serpent pollens did not take.

Supreme Garden, Amalfi, and Pink Star pollens on Sugar Candy failed. Hmmmmmmm...

Elizabeth...With this pollination failures from non-diploid varieties, Sugar Candy seems like a diploid. Pollination that are still alright are from pollens of GilmarII, Emerald, Picotee, Papilio, Papilio Improved and Lemon Lime. I still have 4 flowers to pollinate left.

I have a seedpod that formed in Exotic Star. I used GilmarII pollens in it. I hope I can get some viable seeds from this.

Very pretty, Maria.

And the 10-bud count is a wonderful characteristic.

R.

Maria,

I would expect that this one would be diploid, but that it a suspicion, and I won't know for sure until I see some pods and hear your results.

My first scape has 9 blooms, and I have watched for a 10th, but I don't think it will happen, but GEE! I'm not going to complain at all. This same bulb has another scape, and I have a second bulb with two scapes going to bloom fairly soon also.

This one fascinates me. It is so very different, and I do like different...

I will try some saved Papilio pollen as well as some that Lora sent and some others that I have saved.

Exotic Star makes lots of seeds, and it is definitely diploid. Selfing it failed, but I only tried one bloom with selfing. La Paz also makes lots of seeds. We will see how viable they are. Ruby Meyer makes tiny seeds. Amputo has been pollinated via Exotic Star, and the pods are HUGE just like Exotic Star.

Supreme Garden makes seeds, but it is finicky about that...

I am trying so many combinations, and I am starting to get a better grasp on the ploidy thing. That is so much FUN!

Then, it is a matter of finding the combinations that I like that will grow outside. I am tired of hauling them back inside every time it is time for frost, which unfortunately, looks like will happen this weekend.

Raydio... Yes it is specially with 2 scapes blooming at the same time. I wish it had a smaller bulb though. It's (pointed)bulb I think is not proportional to its small flowers.

Elizabeth...I pollinated one flower tonight with La Paz pollen. That leaves me with 3 flowers to pollinate. Amourette and Amputo are starting to open. Pollens from them will be the next ones to be used. And the last flower will most probably be pollinated with Santos or Santa Cruz, whichever opens first. Ruby Meyer is very SLOW in putting out its red scapes and leaves and will be missing this oppurtunity. Pink Floyd just decided to sit there doing nothing for 10 weeks now.

Yes Supreme Garden is 'choosy"...lol! It gave me just one seedpod per scape. SGXJade Serpent seedlings are about 1/2" tall now. Yesterday, 2 tiny leaves sprouted from SGXGilmar seed tray.

Hauling? Been there, done that yesterday. 50 plus CLAY potted amaryllises went out in the yard 2 weeks ago. Now they are back in the garage and the house. We are having hard freeze tonight and snow on Friday evening - Saturday morning. Next week hopefully they'll be back outside. This is a very good exercise.

Mariava~

My 'Pink Floyd' has been sitting, doing absolutely nothing for weeks now too.

Good to hear that it isn't just mine that shows this long dormancy.

R.

Raydio...So what are we supposed to do with Pink Floyd at this state? Water or no water? I'm thinking about giving it some bottom heat. The house heater is on anyway and I'm thinking of putting it's pot on top of the vents just like the seed trays. Do you think this might wake it up?

I have stopped watering mine altogether. I lift my "slow starters" every now and then to see if they're rooting. I saw no new roots and the old ones wasting or rotting away, I decided to just let it sit until I see something happening.

When I see a little green start to show I will give just a little water, only as much as it takes to moisten the area right around the bulb. I won't worry about moistening all the soil as it won't have roots in it and isn't really needed.

I'll go day-by-day, adjusting the degree of moistness to what I see happening.

I may just have the bulb sitting down in a depression in the soil and not actually set-in so that I can check it easily.

Pink Floyd is very nearly a species (if not a selection of one) and I think it reacts more to its own nature, like many of the cybisters. It is a challenge, it seems, in establishing a new bulb and I think I will treat it next season as I do certain cybisters: only an occasional *light* sprinkle *after* the scapes are well up, and then starting it on more moisture once the foliage starts to emerge. I'm just going to give it time and allow the environment to supply the heat--as with Chico last year.

I'll keep you posted on what happens.

R.

I have done pollinating all flowers of Sugar candy today. Last 3 flowers were pollinated with pollens from Amputo, Amourette and Santa Cruz. It has been a long and exciting process with studying and observing Sugar Candy's 18 flowers. Now everything will be in Nature's hands.

Pollination failure today...Gilmar II pollens.

Raydio...Please do keep me posted. I really appreciate that.

psst....maria...3 more Gilmar seedling popping up...YAY!

You go girl!!! Gilmar is sooooo amazing me. It has been a very good pollen and seed parent.

Raydio...Do you have Gilmar? If you're interested, I can send you some seeds that I have saved. These are seeds of GilmarI (prettier than GilmarII) that I selfed, just like the ones I sent Cindeea. Email me with your address. We'll be warming up by Tuesday and can start sending out "goodies" in the mail. We had snow last night and woke up with everything white outside.

Maria,

My final count on the first scape was 9 blooms. These are so cute! I am so glad that I purchased them. They took forever and a day to send up scapes, but it certainly is worth the wait.

I haven't tried the crosses that I wanted to try yet. We are facing record breaking lows in the morning, and I have had to bring my amaryllis back inside and cover what plants that can. Surely, we will not actually get a frost, but I can't take that chance with some of my plants.

Gilmar is definely fertile, both ways! I purchased several so that I can try them in the ground THIS year.

We will see...

Pollination failure again...Picotee pollens failed.

Elizabeth...Gilmars planted on the ground would be wonderful. It's flowers are not too big, maybe around 5" across and produced 4-5 blooms per scape for me. So far it's over-all plant growth for me is in the medium size. How are your Gilmars doing?

Maria,

My Gilmars are doing fine. I pleased to announce that we did not get frost, so all of that work was for nothing. Whoops! I shouldn't say that. Had I not done all that work, it probably would have gone below 30.

All of my Gilmar pods are developing nicely except for one, and it doesn't have a tag, so I guess I missed pollinating that one. Gilmar is defnitely diploid.

I think that Sugar Candy is also diploid, but it is too soon to say for sure. Picotee is tetraploid if I remember correctly from last year.

Santa Cruz is making me scratch my head because results are poor not consistent.

Exotic Star is defnitely diploid.

Elizabeth...I am going in that direction too...Sugar Candy as diploid. It has rejected most if not all tetraploid pollens. Sugar CandyXPapilio Improved has definitely formed a seedpod.

QUESTION: Is Lemon Lime diploid or tetraploid?

I'll jump in here about my lemon Lime till you hear from Elizabeth.

I have had results with Lemon Lime that indicate to me it is diploid.

But---all Lemon-Limes are not created equal! I have one that has characteristics of 'Yellow Goddess', and I think therefore, that even though it comes from a reputable firm and since it differs from what is generally sold as Lemon lime, it may be another cultivar-hybrid and may have a different ploidy.

R.

Maria! Sugar Candy X Papilio Improved sounds like FUN in the making!!!!

Amputo and Sugar Candy should make for a nice cross. I don't know if my other Amputos will be blooming at the same time, but I did save so pollen, so I'll give that a try on mine.

My Lemon Lime turned out to NOT be the real thing, and I think it is a tet, but the verdict is still out on that one.

I think that Lora is correct about Santa Cruz being a tet, but I am waiting to be sure.

Right now, the only diploids I have in bloom are Sugar Candy and "MY" Johnsonii which is blooming outside. Should I dare try some Johnsonii pollen on Sugar Candy?

My older bulbs are opening now and that includes Blossom Peacock, Lady Jane, Apple Blossom, Red Peacock, Philadelphia, Charisma. Others will be blooming soon.

It's too soon to know whether Sugar Candy pods on the first scape will make it. They were pollinated with Smith & Hawkins Papillo which may actually be Jungle Star. I have two more scapes opening now and the 4th scape will probably open next week.

I do like this one, Maria. The bloom count is fantastic!

Raydio...I think so too. My Lemon Lime(LL) just arrived yesterday from RC. The Lemon Lime pollens I am using in my crosses right now are from Cindeea. So far her LL pollens are working very good with my crosses. I hope my LL would be as fertile as hers.

I will be harvesting PapilioX LL in a few days. It is starting to crack open. I will post an update on this.

Elizabeth...Now that would be a LOT of flowers to pollinate. I say go for Sugar CandyXJohnsonii!!!

Maria,

I'll definitely do that, both ways! Just think! 10 blooms on Sugar Candy combined with 6 blooms on Johnsonii. I should at least have some seedlings with 8 or more blooms. I don't have a clue what they would look like, though!

Johsonii should also add some hardiness, and hardiness is what I want most. Otherwise, I'm going to run out of space!

If only it wouldn't take so LONG!

After almost assuming Sugar Candy as a diploid, I noticed a very strange development today. I was checking on my seedpod bearing amaryllises and Pink Star definitely formed a seedpod with Sugar Candy pollens with pollination done March 23.

Doesn't that just blow your mind?

Maria, Did you try selfing any of your Sugar Candy blooms?

Elizabeth...No I did not self Sugar Candy. I rarely self pollinate my amaryllises. I am right now using Sugar Candy pollens on my minis that are in bloom. I am PATIENTLY waiting for my Lovely Garden to arrive. I would love to try Lovely GardenXSugar Candy...a klister with so much flowers in a scape if ever.

Papilio, Amourette and La Paz pollination failed. If this is a 'ploidy doidy' issue, I don't know anymore. This pollination failures could be caused by new bulb not being able to support so much seedpods if ever. This now leaves 3 pollinated flowers on first scape and 4 on second scape. May the best pollens win!!!

Maria,

I rarely self my amaryllis except when there is only one in bloom, but someone convinced me to give that a try, so I am doing more of that now.

These pods are so tiny. I am not sure whether they will make it or not. I did self some, just to see if it would work.

And this morning, I tried some pollen from Charisma.

Time will tell, or maybe not...

17 flowers pollinated with both diploid, triploid and "in between ploid" pollens...ALL failed or aborted!!! Maybe it's the cold weather, maybe it's the lack of roots, maybe it's the lack of sunlight or just maybe it's not capable off bearing seeds. Maybe next time it blooms I'll be blessed.

Elizabeth...How are your pollinations doing?

Palmcoastgarden...Did you pollinate your flowers?

QUESTION: Do pollinated flowers and seedpods require a certain temperature and quantity/quality of light to successfully complete the "ripening" of the seeds?

Maria,

Pods have formed on the first scape. They are so, so, very tiny, though. I'd say that they are slightly smaller than a dime and appear to be ripening without getting larger than that.

I'm going to save some of the Sugar Candy pollen for my older Amputo bulb which should be opening a bloom within the next week or two. Amputo is definitely diploid and produces nice seeds with Misty, Exotic Star and Gilmar.

And, YES!!! Sugar Candy is named correctly! It is yummy!

Elizabeth...Congratulations!!! My Sugar Candy did form some tiny seedpods before we got that cold spell. Then the scapes just started to shrink and finally all seedpods were aborted. That's why I put up that question above. This also happpened to one of Papilio Improved's scape with seedpods. La Paz was starting to do this but the seedpods ripened before the scape collapsed. These diploids I think prefer warmer weather.

My Sugar Candy's didn't look like they were doing anything, so I brought them inside. It seemed like forever, but they finally bloomed.

It remains to be seen whether I will get any viable seeds from Sugar Candy. I am simply in awe that the pods are so tiny.

Ruby Meyer's pods were small also, but not this small!

I'll keep you posted...

mariava: You asked if I pollinated any flowers. I never have, I'm still a novice when it comes to Amaryllis. I'm finally having success at getting them to bloom a second year. Plus I doubt if I have the patience to wait 3-4 years for a seedling to grow up and bloom. I have trouble waiting 12 weeks to see what a flower looks like. However, I love hearing about your successes. My Sugar Candy, which has 2 scapes, will probably bloom in about one more week.

When I moved, we put my pollinated, bulbs, and actually all of my flowers in the neighbor's garage. It was cold, it was dark and it was not too friendly. Yet, the seed pods have matured and dried up for me just a few days into bringing them in the house... So I guess, they did not need either water, light, or warmth to take care of the seed developmen. The seeds also look plump and viable. The flower was Carina... What a wonderful little flower... And a bunch of them. A real scarlet crown. And hundreds of seeds.

I just read a portion of Veronica Read's book that she mentioned a certain variety of amaryllis in bloom in one of her shows that after so many days of insufficient sunlight, it became "etiolated" and scapes collapsed. Geeezzzz...I had to get a dictionary for that word!

Soultan...How long did Carina stay in that garage? Can you estimate the temperature? Congratulations! Now you join the club of grandmas and grandpas...lol!

Elizabeth...I'll be waiting...thanks!

Palmcoastgarden...Sugar Candy will be so worth it for the loooooong wait. 12 weeks = 3 months = 1/4 of a year...I don't blame you for having a problem with this...lol! Maybe you can try some of the South African varieties. They bloom faster than the Dutch varieties.

Carina stayed in the garage from february 28th to about the beginning of April. LONG time. Temperature was under the normal temperature of the area at that time. If you are interested, you can research it on some weather sites. The zip code is 90068. But I can tell you that on some nights, I had to wear winter clothing when I went out. 30-40-50 max degrees. And the Garage is in a hillside, carved in, so it is even colder and keeps the cold.

Maria,

If these are seeds (looks like embryos in there), then they are the tiniest amaryllis seeds that I have ever seen.

The pods dried up without cracking open like amaryllis normally do, so I have no clue as to whether these seeds will germinate. All I can do is try...

Elizabeth...How many weeks from pollination? Mine I think didn't even made it to 4 weeks. When I opened the pods, they were just tiny white things inside. Just try and plant them and lets see what happens. Please do update us on this.

I did try Sugar Candy pollens on some of my miniatures but I think most of them did not take. A seedpod formed on Santos but it is right now showing some shrinking. Oh well...

Well, it's almost 3 months after the last post. Most of the amaryllises have leafed out beautifully but NOT Sugar Candy. It has given out 7 cute 6" leaves so far.

Elizabeth...Did you have any success on those Sugar Candy seeds?

Raydio...Yes my Pink Floyd is ALIVE still, did not bloomed but has 5 tiny leaves now. How are yours doing?

Both of my Sugar Candies are leafless. NO leaf, no scape. Nothing... And John Scheepers is not answering.

One of my Sugar Candies has leaves. The other does not.

I haven't figured this one out, yet, but I am trying. All of the diploids with exception of Johnsonii and a few others do act differently in the heat of the summer.

Like I said, I am trying to figure it out, but have not, YET!

My Striped Panther didn't bloom or leafed out. It just wants to sit there, fat and firm, and gave out 4 babies instead. Could it be a diploid too?

Striped Panther is bringing a bloom for me... I like this variety. Despite of the rough conditions, it just decided not to die, but bloom... Amazing... I can't wait for the flower to open. I love this variety.

Here you go Soultan...
Sugar Candy has a lot of very tiny roots. A reminder to carefully water it and use well draining soil mix.

{{gwi:393125}}

Mine looked something similar when I planted it out. So it is not sick. Then why the heck doesn't it grow leaves at least?

Lol Soultan! I have no idea...really. Maybe that's what Lora calls "BUM bulbs". I have quite a few of these kind. Snow White, Double Record and one of my Minervas would put up a leaf and when it's about 1 inch tall, it would turn yellow and die. The bulb stays firm even though they have been planted for months already. Striped Panther never put up a leaf or scape but gave out babies. "To throw or not to throw...that is the question!"

I don't know. I love Stiped Panther. It is bringing a huge scape for me with small leaves already showing on the bottom... I will definitely not toss the BUM bulbs until they die... They are alive. They are just sleeping.