Bulb seedlings
J.E. Shields (Mon, 12 Jun 2006 05:15:09 PDT)

Hi Terrence, Mary Sue, and all,

Further on the subject of starting Amaryllids from seeds: Many bulb
species are easily set back if disturbed any time during their first three
years from seed. Mary Sue's advice is quite on target -- plant the seeds
in larger pots so that they can be left undisturbed for up to 3 years.

I did an experiment about 8 years ago. I had several batches of seeds of
Haemanthus barkerae. One batch was repotted at the end of the second
growing season; i.e., they were a little over 1 year old. Another batch
was left alone for 4 growing seasons before repotting. The early repotted
batch have still not bloomed, while the undisturbed batch started flowering
two years ago.

Once the bulbs get a good size and a strong root system, they profit from
being repotted regularly. I try to do it every two years.

For seeds of Haemanthus, I start one seed per 4-inch to 5-inch square pot;
then don't even think of repotting for at least 3 years! Haemanthus
bloom, if undisturbed, in 4 or 5 years from planting seed. If you disturb
the seedling before that time, the first bloom can be delayed until 7, 8,
or 9 years. I speak from sad experience.

Hippeastrum do best if not only kept undisturbed but kept in continuous
growth until bloom size. They are pretty happy even when jammed together
in a crowded seedling pot. The "Hippies" are pretty easy this
way. Haemanthus are trickier to keep in continuous growth; but I have lost
more young Haemanthus seedlings, even after two growth seasons, to dry
summer storage than to light watering and continuous growth
conditions. Winter-growing species are kept in growth over summer in my
basement (air-conditioned) under fluorescent lights and are watered
occasionally as well as fed lightly (20-20-20 or 20-10-20 at 1/4 strength).

Jim Shields
in central Indiana (USA)

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Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 Shields Gardens, Ltd.
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