Surface plating method is also possible, I tried, but you need to maintain a high humidity level.

I acted before I saw your comment, but with the pods I will collect in the future I may try several different methods. I didn't dry my seeds this year, they dried for about 6hrs, should I ?? With this batch of seeds I floated overnight and planted them in flats in a more or less single layer ( no where near as neat as Elena's trays) and covered with a little soil. I also covered the whole thing in plastic wrap for humidity and to retain heat.

Hello! Drying seeds - good question. From my experience - I little drying seeds . I usually dries day. Using plastic wrap - it is right (I forgot to write!)

Ways sowing a lot. Try and find your own)) is unique right for you and fits your environment. Good luck!

so far - i have floated mine in water until the roots start to appear - then i transfer those to soil and keep moist (if they dry out they might stop growing). so far has worked for me.

I harvested 5 more pods yesterday, and they've been drying the half day and over night. Has anyone ever tried the paper towel method for amaryllis and had any success? Also, I know this may be a silly question, about how long do they take to sprout I cant remember how long I waited last year, only that I gave up and forgot about them and came back to find they sprouted

personally i have rot issues with paper towels - so i don't use it. I am floating some seeds now that i started on the 22nd. i think it takes between a week to two weeks to sprout roots - i can't remember either.

I am currently trying to float 4 different varieties. I have them uncovered in separate bowls sitting on a shelf in my house. They have been there almost a week now with no activity. Does the water temperature contribute to germination success? I keep my house around 75,and the water is cool to the touch. I'm tempted to cover and move them outside to my covered patio.

Thoughts?

Certain seeds seemingly sprout in a few days while other lanqish for several weeks, up to 3 or even more for seeds with reticulatum in them (my experience). I just make sure to change the water weekly and don't soak too many in one bowl as you should be weeding out those that appear to feel soft or punky, they will pollute the water.

Also, don't be afraid to store seeds in the refrigerator in those little paper (not plastic or they will sweat) bags and then in a plastic container; labeled correctly of course. I had Madame Butterfly seeds for the better part of a year and they still had a high germination rate. Of course I don't recommend a year but several months would surely work for most seeds.. This way if you end up with a disaster, e.g. mold, dryness, fungus gnats or a host of other ways to kill seedlings you can try again. It happens to the best of us and then are we glad to still have another change at some of our seeds!!!

Donna

I ended up paper toweling 2 ziplock bags just to see what may happen. I also picked up 3 more large nursery flats that lowes was throwing away (what a steal) so I should have those filled with more surface sown seeds covered with a little sand or something. Hopefully I get a lot of sprouts

I used the paper towel method last year without any problems. I prefer the floating because i like to watch things but you can put more seeds on a paper towel than into a glass of water, so I'm working with both methods right now. I don't use ziplock bags but these covers for documents. They are not closed but never dry out.

I'm sure that temperature influences germination but 75 should be ok as they grow at this temperature too. My flat can be cooler sometimes and the seeds still germinate. I noticed that even of the same cross the seeds can take different time. I had some seeds floating and thought that only half of them germinated but yesterday I discovered that almost all of them had sprouted. The second half was more than a week behind the first. I don't know if the fast will make stronger seedlings?

Donna, I'm sure that you can store seeds even in the freezer. I just heard about this Global seed vault in Norway where they store seeds for many years at -18°C (-0,4°F):

Here is the link:

We can't provide very perfect and totally controlled conditions at home of course but it should still work for some time.

Good luck with your seedlings!

Anja

Many, many thanks for that interesting information, Anja!

Now, I need a second freezer.

Actually Anja, I did freeze seeds successfully one time by accident!

Here is the link:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1747058/who-knew-frozen-seeds-germinating?n=9

I don't think I would intentionally freeze seeds again but keeping them in the refrigerator for up to a year is doable , depending on the cross.

By the way, I no longer have these seedlings so they were either done in by fungus gnats or mealy bugs. But, maybe I will try again, just as an experiment!!

Donna

I prefer sowing directly to the soil include of 60% coco peat, and 40% top soil. I put the seeds lay on the soil in rows and cover by a thin layer of the same mix. Normally they germinate in 15 days.

here are some pix i took today:

2 months seedlings charisma x flaming peacock:

Some papilio and komoriya seedlings 1,5 month:

Amazing looking seedlings!!!☺☺

I think I may have just killed all my seeds, especially my floating seeds. I have them in full sun and didn't realize how hot it would get today. It's 81 and I have a pod of of really good seed floating in about 2 cups of water in a covered plastic container; when I checked on the seeds that water was HOT! Hot enough that when I stuck in my finger it was definitely a little uncomfortable.

Do you think they're cooked or is it possible they're alive ?

Do not rush to conclusions! Maybe there still is alive, do not rush to throw away.

Still nothing to sprout. No roots on anything. The seeds I floated have all sank to the bottom of the dish; does this mean they're no good ?

um those are the ones that were in the sun? how long have they been in water?

Since the 23rd of May. None of the planted seeds sprouted either. We had a 3 day heat wave of 98-102 temps that may have finished them off but I'll keep them maybe until mid July if nothing comes up

were they fresh seed or dried? if they were fresh, they should have at least started showing roots...i had a batch that dried out - killed off most of the batch..

Oh yes. Those floated seeds that were basically boiled were no good anymore; the seed part had turned mushy. I'm still waiting on whether or not the flats I planets are good or not, still nothing showing but hopefully the soil didn't hear as fast as the water in those floated one.

the paper towel batch I started 5/25 have sprouted so I don't have much hope for my 3 large flats. What a waste of seed on my part. :(

live and learn!

recently did something similar with some hibiscus seeds...not very happy about it, but nothing more i can except not do it next time.

I floated about 60 stellar lace seeds on 5-20 and had a 99% germination rate. Fresh seeds from this years harvest.

Everything has been planted and fertilized here.

Is there any chance you have a picture of your Stellar Lace? I remember seeing a picture of bulbs I thought was called Stella's Lace and I am wondering if it's the same.

Donna

I don't, these seeds came from my mother's house. I have a bulb in a pot now. Ill send one next time she blooms!

I'm wondering how often i should fertilize these seedlings. I'm thinking once a week. Also i placed these planters on my patio to get plenty of good TX sun. I'm hoping to get some good growth before winter.

Thanks Stephen, I'd love to see a picture of your Stellar Lace.

As for putting very young seedlings out in the hot sun.. Texas sun at that, I surely wouldn't have the courage!! They could dry out in a flash!! When I water my very young seedlings, I use an extremely weak solution of Miracle Grow and than only every few times I water them. But, that's just me, so, do whatever seems right for you but do be careful of the hot sun.

There a several other hippie gardeners who deal with seedlings on this forum from Texas so perhaps their advice would be more appropriate than mine....

Donna

When do you take them out of the water? Mine have a tiny root.

Usually when they are about this size; the leaf being anywhere from 1 & 1/4" to two inches. The leaf is somewhat proportionate to the root but it's not exact.

Donna

Hi Maylingsmom,

Something I've been doing for the past two years is pot them in pure horticultural (coarse) vermiculite with a humidity dome for a little extra moisture and I've had great success. Over the past couple of years I floated a number of species hippies and I wanted to make sure that they had the best possible chance of surviving the water to growing medium "shock" that I now use this method exclusively. I hope this helps.

Warm Regards,

Fred

You know Fred, I think I am going to try some your way!! In past years I have rooted hydrangea cuttings in vermiculite with great success, and as you say, transplanting them from the vermiculite to potting soil shouldn't be such a shock as from water. Maybe this will solve some of my problems trying to get some seedlings to grow on after they have germinated so well in water!!! I know I've got a half bag of the stuff somewhere....☺☺

Donna

Hi Donna,

Give it a shot, especially if you've got some extra seed and you want to experiment. I was able to get some iguazuanum, and cardoso moreira seeds over the winter and I floated them until the first leaf grew, then transitioned them to vermiculite. I haven't lost a single one and they're forming really nice & plump little bulbs. I also used this technique for the wonderful Madame Butterfly seeds you sent me and just today I potted them up. They too formed nice little bulblets.

Warm Regards,

Fred