For anyone who got Amaryllis seeds from me. I've not grown them from seed before so did some research and decided to try the water method. I'm very pleased with the germ rate. I took two clear plastic boxes that food had come in and filled them 1/2 way with distilled water. I would have added hydrogen peroxide but didn't have any at that point. They've done beautifully without. Below you can see my set-up. I have a strange shelf behind the tub in our guest bath. It's perfect for grow lights. When I dropped the seeds onto the water they floated happily. I tried to make sure they all had contact with the water.
I have the lights on about 16 hours a day. I haven't done anything else. It's about 3-4 weeks since I started them. I was surprised to find that the first thing that emerges from the seed is not the radicle but a leaf! As you can see in the seed close-up, there are two leaves and the root. Lots of the seeds only have a leaf or two at this point.
So now I will fill cell trays with potting soil and place a seed atop each one. I'll keep them under grow lights until spring. I"m also going to try a couple of WS jugs to see how they do that way. I'm SOOOO glad deer don't eat amaryllis.
