(above - an albino flower - click to see fine detail)
mindreader!
lol ... i thought I should update ...
first, i saw the little one start to fade, so i read more about the care of albinos and found out that the roots are not developed enough yet (at seedling stage) to convert the sugar-water into the needed carbs.
albino plants have been shown to get through the seedling stage by dipping the ends of their leaves in a small container of sugar-water that is elevated and kept next to the pot, by cutting the leaf tips off at the end. This allows the seedling leaves to soak up the liquid directly. the tips are re-cut just slightly every other day to re-open the tissue needed for the "IV" drip. some research says it may also help to mist the leaves with sugar water. then, after roots are established, the plant can be weaned (it will have mature roots that can get nutrients directly from the soil and water).
i learned all this after my albino faded too much, though (the leaves were already collapsed and couldn't IV-feed) ... but, the seed case is still firm, and there is still some tissue much like the 'eye' or 'tongue' that appears when first soaking a daylily seed for sprouting. so, i've put the albino seed back into water and am watching it ... as it seems to be trying to re-grow another eye. if it does, i'll be giving it a second go-round. if not, i have my plan all ready for the next albino seedling that comes along.
so, do daylily seed cases have nine lives?! :D tune in next week ...
