Amaryllis Propagation

[Plant_Guy]

Hello,

I read the pages regarding sectioning an amaryllis to produce more bulbs, and have a question. There are several methods of bulb propagation enumerated on the following page: "http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/TRA/PLANTS/bulbprop.html". I want to know if coring the bulb will produce larger bulblets than the sectioning method. Also, does anyone know which of all the methods will produce flowering bulbs in the shortest time? Thanks in advance for any input.

Plant_Guy

[Ann B.]

All of my research indicated that Sectioning was the method most commonly used for Amaryllis, whereas scoring and scooping is used for Daffodils and Hyacinths. Also, Scooping will produce fewer, but larger bulbs.

I am not familiar with the coring method and have never used it.

In my experience, the longer you can keep the section of mother scale alive (not shriveled up), the quicker the newly formed bulb will grow.

I have been told that you can make more than 8 sections, and increase the yield. Also, I have been told that you can cut each section in half by inserting your cutting blade in between two scales and cutting through the base. The same person told me that he grew a blooming size bulb by sectioning in two years. In my experience, it has taken three years, but I may not have fed and cared for the baby bulbs as well as he did. He also has a degree in Horticulture and works full time in the field.

I haven't had one bloom from seed yet, but at their current rate of growth, it will take about 1-2 years longer than by sectioning.

Does that help?

[Plant_Guy]

If that is true regarding keeping the "mother scale" alive, how about this method: Plant a bulb in a pot and let it root in a cold place (unheated garage, fridge, etc.). After rooting, remove from pot and shake off soil. Cut into four sections, each with significant roots, and treat with fungicide and re-pot in four pots. Will this produce bulblets, or just four really weird and weakened bulbs? Just a thought...

Plant_Guy

PS - Yes your reply was illuminating. Thanks.

[Ann B.]

As a matter of fact, I wait until after the bulb blooms and produces seed (if it does), then I cut it into 8 sections. Sometimes, more than one new bulb will grow on a single section. I suspect this will happen more if you only cut the bulb into 4 sections instead of 8.

Perhaps, if I cut the bulb into sections before it blooms, it would have more strength to produce bigger bulbs quicker. That is a thought, I will have to try that!

[Plant_Guy]

I am sure that better results will be obtained using a bulb that has not bloomed. You were getting results using a bulb that had maybe 25% of its pre-blooming strength. I have approx. 20 unplanted bulbs that I can try for this experiment. I have a giant Star of Holland bulb I should try for this!! The bulb is the size of a big orange! I will let it root in my garage for 4-5 weeks, and try this stunt! Before I forget to ask, how long did it take for the bulbs produced by this method to flower? Thanks.

Plant_Guy

[Ann B.]

You should see new bulbs forming in about 4 weeks, leaves should form by 8 weeks. Mine took about 3 1/2 years to bloom the first time around.

We are fortunate here. Most of the Amaryllis do fine in the yard, as long as we don't get a record breaking cold winter. Our humidity is high, and it gets really hot at times. Also, in the yard they bloom in the spring rather than at Christmas time.

You have quite a collection. I only have the Dazzler, Lady Jane, Apple Blossom, Red Lion, Minerva and I will have to find the name of the dark pink one that you see pictured in the web site.

Good Luck! I can't wait to hear how it goes for you.

[Plant_Guy]

3 1/2 years! Yikes!!

I know this may sound silly, but what happened to the slices of mother bulb? Did they die/rot? I was wondering, if the bulb is cut into 4 or 6 sections, shouldn't the pieces survive? Or taking this idea even further, if I cut a big bulb in half (right down the line, keeping the leaves intact on either side), won't I get one large viable bulb with several decent sized bulblets? I guess one can go crazy with all the possible configurations.

[Plant_Guy]

I meant two bulbs, one per half, obviously.

[Ann B.]

The only problem that I think you 'might' run into if you cut the bulb in half, is that mother scales may not spread open enough to make room for the new bulb to immerge. The same sort of problem may occur when slicing it into 4 pieces. That is only a guess, since I have never tried it.

The mother bulb scales will eventually shrivel up and dry out. I noticed that the ones that stayed 'alive' longer seemed to produce larger bulbs faster.

Since you are using a bulb that has not used up so much energy on flowering and seed production, perhaps yours will flower in 2 years like the horticulturist said. I enjoy growing plants from seed, so I can't resist the temptation to let them flower and try to get them to go to seed.

Enjoy!

[Plant_Guy]

Since these last messages, I have done several experiments, and here are my findings to date. First, I cut a minerva amaryllis in half, and then planted the half with the immature leaves(OK, I didn't cut it perfectly in half) in a pot as you would a normal bulb. The other half, I cut into four pieces and planted them. I cut an apple blossom bulb into four large pieces. I planted two of these, and then cut the remaining pieces into smaller sections to try to see if the resulting bulb size had anything to do with the size of the original mother scale. This was done on January 20th. To date, nothing has sprouted from the pieces. When I look at the bottom of the container, though, I see roots forming, so something is happening. Because I am not always patient, I dug up some pieces to see their progress. All I saw were some rotted pieces, and some with new roots, but no sign of new bulblets. All of the small pieces rotted. As for the half bulb, it is growing happily with several leaves, and one flower stalk which is now just blooming. There are no bulblets forming yet, however.

TomG. - aka Plant_Guy

[Ann B.]

Tom,

I bought two called 'Garden Amaryllis'. I planted one as usual, and the other, I cut into 18 pieces and potted. I just checked and I can see tiny bulbs forming at the base of the sections that I checked. I cut them about a month ago.

Did you dust these with any kind of fungicide? I use Captan because I have it, and recent research indicates that it has been approved for some bulb use. However, it doesn't specifically state Amaryllis nor does it mention propagation of bulbs by cutting.

The other thing that you might consider is to let them dry out more in between watering.

This year, I am concentrating on seed. I want to try several methods again. I have some seedlings growing in cell packs, but it took longer this time for them to sprout. This was a different variety than I have done in the before, but I wouldn't have thought that it would make a difference in germination times.

We will see!

[Ann B.]

Tom,

Have you ever tried hand pollinating a double Amaryllis like 'Lady Jane'. I have one that I tried to hand pollinate on the first set of blooms, and no seeds.

Now, there is a second set of blooms, and I am trying to take the pollen from it and pollinate a Minerva. The doubles don't have much pollen, but you can find it. However, the doubles have a smaller stigma that doesn't open up like the others.

Just wondering...

[Plant_Guy]

I have not collected any double amaryllis varieties, so I cannot comment from experience. I have, however, this year crossed a minerva with a pink amaryllis, and this giant seed pod seems to be just about ready. It is much bigger than all the other seed pods from my different crosses. Let me know if you want seed from this cross, and I'll send it to you.

TomG. - Plant_Guy

[Ann B.]

Tom,

This is my first time to hand pollinate one of my Minerva, and I have been noticing the same thing on this one. The seed pods are almost twice as big around as the other varieties that I have done. They are almost as big as a silver dollar.

I would love to try some of your seed, and I will send you some in return. Just send me your street address and tell me if US mail is okay, or UPS better.

Thanks!

[Plant_Guy]

You've Got Mail.

[Plant_Guy]

UPDATE: My cuttage experiment was a failure. The smallest pieces rotted away with no traces left at all. The largest pieces rooted pretty well with no trace of any bulblets at all, and all the intermediate pieces except one produced no bulblets. Only one intermediate piece produced what looked like a tiny bulblet to me. Anyway, the reasons I think the experiment failed are as follows: 1)The soil mixture was no good, and the soil stayed soggy for weeks. 2)The temperature never got above 75degF, and at night was often around 62degF. 3)I had a problem with fungus gnats, and saw plenty of their larvae when I dug up the pieces, so maybe that had something to do with it.

As an aside, the bulb I cut in half is happily blooming with no signs of distress or bulblets for that matter(sigh).

NEXT STEPS: Repeat experiment with an airy soiless mixture that dries out quickly. Also, I will use heating elements to make sure the temp. is above 75degF all the time. Last, but not least, I will keep the whole thing away from fungus gnats.

Hopefully this will appraise people regarding what NOT to do when attempting this procedure. Moral of the story: do not cut up a prized bulb until you get the procedure down pat, and know what you are doing!!

TomG. - aka Plant_Guy

[Ann B.]

Plant Guy,

Just hang onto the one that is blooming and don't let it go to seed. Make sure you keep it as healthy as possible, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a new bulb or two growing from it.

And you are absolutely correct about cutting up one that is the only one you have. I usually purchase 2 of a variety, one to cut, one to let flower and try to go to seed. Even though I have gotten fairly good at propagating by cutting, I don't like taking the chance. If I only have one, and it is hard to find, I will plant it in a slightly larger pot the second year and hope that it will multiply by itself. Some multiply faster than others. Then I will try sectioning.

Thanks for the update. Good Luck and keep us posted....

[Plant_Guy]

I saw a post on a forum somewhere that a method of getting a bulb to produce bulblets is to damage the bulb by cutting four vertical lines about 1/8 deep down to the basal plate, and also lightly scoring the basal plate itself, though not in the same place as the vertical lines. I am thinking about doing this to one of the bulbs that I'm using for my Easter displays. Best Regards.

TomG. - aka Plant_Guy