I spotted these on the ends of the bloom stalks of my Amaryllis belladonna. Can anyone tell me what is happening. Is it some of the seeds germinating?


The spent bloom stalks are full of seed capsules.


And two of the seed capsules are sprouting these pink things.



And what should I do with all of those other seed capsules? Should I open them up and plant the seed? Or just plant the entire seed capsule? Should I plant them now, or wait until spring?

These just naturally fall off and germinate. You can plant them also, but not too deep. The color of the flesh is a good indication of the flower color. This process takes many many years. I plant them all for the future. Some care as to where you plant them is needed because they can easily be overlooked and weeded out. Division of the parent bulb clump is quicker but I have found that they don't bloom for some time after being disrupted.

It took several years or so for these to bloom after planting. I don't think I want to divide them.
Thank you so much for the information. Now what about the the other seed pods? Do I just leave them, or should I open them up and plant the seed?

Lynn, these look like a type of bulbil such as you get on Nerine so you wouldn't open them up, they just sprout and grow.

https://www.google.co.uk/searc...

Thank you Janet for the link. Now to find how they handle these little bulbils for propagation. This is a first for me, and there are many out there. Now what to do with them all?

I think they are best sown fresh Lynn, in nature they would drop to the ground with the dying stems or get carried by winds or rain and germinate quite soon if conditions were correct.

It's best to keep them where they don't get frosted. Use a loose, sandy loam mixed with leaf mould if you can get any or leafy compost and press them into the surface. You could cover them lightly with leaf mould but I would say they need to be kept only slightly moist and very well drained. When the roots make they will seek moisture lower down, these grow amongst rocks on hilly slopes in South Africa.

http://www.plantzafrica.com/pl...

Thank you Janet. I think where they are growing would work. Lots of leave mold and good drainage in that area. I even have some sandy loam that I could sprinkle over the top of them once pressed into the soil. I can't do anything about frost or freezing. We haven't had a frost yet, so do you think I should cut all the seed pods from the stalks and press them into the soil, even if the seeds haven't germinated yet?

I am finding some good information on planting the bulbils/seeds. I will compile the information into an article and publish it so others will know what to do, or not do.

I wouldn't expose them to frost Lynn, they will be far too tender. I really doubt you will have success if you put them in the ground, growing them in a frost free place with good care is best. You might not want the bother of looking after pots, if not then it won't cost anything to try them in the ground.

Mature bulbs will survive a certain amount of freezing in the ground.

These bulbs have survived temps down to 5°F. I really don't want to babysit the bulbis, so will try in ground and see what happens. If they don't make it I am really not out anything. Thank you for the help Janet.

Remembered this thread just now and had forgotten to share this photo of these two year old Amarylis belladona. The seeds to the right are from the same parent which is an unusually saturated deep pink much like yours Lyne. I cover them about one inch. Where they fall normaly, onto the dirt, is where they germinate from under the parent. As to the other seed capsules... they will open on there own when the seeds are ready. It'll be a long wait for a bloom but worth it.

Leslie, you give me hope. Thank you so much for the photo and information. I did scatter the seeds on the soil around in the area not far from the parent plants, and put soil over them. Sure hope the survive the freezing temps we are having right now. Time will tell. When might I see new foliage from the seeds?

It won't take long when your temps are more moderate. Short dips into freezing weather won't bother them but will slow there sprouting. Last winter here we had ice in the garden all day for several days. Even frost heaves in the soil. Unusual for here. The seeds that fell in place were unaffected by that very dry cold winter last year. I just cut the old flower stalks and harvested all the unopened seeds today. Its very slow growing with these. I don't think The ones in the photo will be much bigger than they were last year. If you look in your old established clumps, in-between and around the large bulbs you will probably see some small one that were self sown. I think this is how the clumps become so thick in time. You just don't notice these little ones down in there where there very well protected and hidden. Congratulations on your best in Annuals photo! A real charmer.

That really is a charming annual photo, I wish it were mine. : ) It belongs to Sue.

I haven't had any seedling show up yet. This is the first year that these have set seed. I will watch for them to sprout and show in the spring. We have been down into the 20's at night for a week now. We are suppose to have a warming tread starting Wed. It should have lows in the low 40's. I think we get much colder than you do.

Ooops. I thought your weather would be more moderate. Your not that far from the ocean. I looked at some off the seeds that had fallen on there own and see one that is just sprouting. We have had very mild weather and some rain thank goodness. Our lowest temp this fall has been 46.

We are actually in between two mountain ranges, one blocks us from the coast. Tomorrow we are suppose to start on a mild warming trend with lows in the 40's. Not sure how long that will last before winter really arrives.