Hippeastrum Germination


 

The Flotation method.


Fill a clear plastic container, for which a transparent lid is available, half full with water. Chinese Take-away containers are perfect.
Tap water seems to work best.


Sprinkle the sheathed seeds onto the surface of the water. The seeds will naturally float towards each other.
It is acceptable for them to remain touching, however each seed should be floating directly on the water, and not resting on top of other seeds. Place the lid on the container, but do not seal it.
The lid will help to maintain a level of humidity, but if condensation occurs on the inside of the container, the lid should be opened further, or rotated so as to reduce the humidity.


The seeds need light to germinate, but cannot handle direct sunlight.
A window sill that does not receive sunlight is perfect.
After about two weeks, small white roots will be observed growing down from the bottom of the sheaths. In another week or so, small grass like leaves will be observed pushing themselves out of the sheaths.


Once the roots and leaves are both about 1 cm to 1.5cm, the seedlings can be carefully removed from the water and placed, individually, into small pots containing a fine potting mix. Wet the soil well before transplanting, and use a toothpick to make holes into which individual roots will be placed.

Gently pick up each seed by its leaf and settle its root into the soil.
The remains of the sheath should be resting on the surface of the soil. After all the seeds are placed, water them gently but thoroughly to encourage the soil to adhere to the roots.

They cannot handle direct sunlight. So ideally raise them in a shade house or back on the window sill you started with but the soil must be kept moist.

When the second leaves appear on the seedlings you can start to introduce them to a little more light and can water them with a very weak solution of "Seasol", or another plant conditioner to help encourage root growth.

Once they have settled into the pot and leaf growth is stable provide a mild, or slow release fertilizer and leave them in pots for another six months before moving them out into full sun.


Hippeastrum roots are very important to the plant, so take care when transplanting. Best to prepare a bed first by digging in some organic material such as horse or cow manure, or compost.


Plant with the neck of the bulb just above soil level and water in well, then keep just moist until they begin to grow.
Do not over water as they will rot if left to sit in boggy wet soil.
In three years the bulbs will have matured sufficiently to begin blooming. They prefer to be able to form a large clump. So you should not need to split them up for quite a few years.