I am thinking of trying to grow alstroemeria in pots. I thought they were bulbs, but when I look to buy them, they sell seeds. Are there some that grow from each? If anyone has any experience with these, please share — any info on soil, timeline, etc. would be appreciated. I'm in Santa Monica, CA and they will end up this spring on a southeast patio. Thank you.

Alstroemeria grow from crowns with big fat roots (think asparagus roots). They grow like wildfire so will outgrow a pot in a matter of minutes.

Around here, in the spring, the stores are full of pots of blooming alstroemeria at reasonable prices. I would wait for the pots to show up at the grocery. There are sizes from about 8 - 12 inches up to 3 or 4 ft.

Here are 2 patches in my yard:

I have some alstroemeria dandy candy seeds I'm going to try to grow. From what I've read they are hard to germinate and one article recommended a plan that fluctuates temperatures to increase germination. The recommended plan is as follows: sowing seeds 1/4" deep at 70F for 3 weeks then refrigerate at 40F for 3 weeks, finally return to 70F until germination (about 2 weeks.)

According to my germination books, once the seeds have dried, they are dormant. Dormancy is difficult to break. The recommendation is to soak the seed in warm water until the seed swells OR plant in a seed starting mix and keep warm for 3 weeks. Then cold moist stratification at about 40 degrees for a month. Then warm again until the seeds germinate. That could take another 3 or 4 months. Never let them get too dry.

Plant each pot of seedlings together, don't try to separate them as the roots are too fragile. Plants from seed will not necessarily look like the parent plant so if you really want Dandy Candy, you will have to plant a division. The babies will bloom 2 or 3 years after germination.

Keep us posted. I'd love to know how you do. I would be tempted to soak some of the seeds until they swell and plant some too see which way works best.

Thank you both. Given my patience level, I would probably do best with started plants — but I may try the seeds. It is raining buckets here right now with the Pineapple Express storm. It doesn't get really warm until June or July, so I have plenty of germination time. I will let you know if I do.

I have grown Alstroemeria in big pots for several years at a time. I fed them weekly with a soluble Super-Bloom food to keep them happy. They didn't particularly like summers, but did well the rest of the year. When they got planted in the ground they really took off!

Good to know! Thank you!

Mine are in the ground and are barely out of bloom. They are much happier in the ground, I've tried both ways.