Too bad we don't have a forum just for caladiums

Thanks, Lari Ann. I kind of doubt that I was successful, because although I did find a little pollen in the one open flower, it had fallen down into the bottom of the spathe. Might not have been viable.

I did open the bottom of the other flower before it opened by itself and applied the pollen using the little clean pipe cleaner I had collected it with. It came out with some stringy sticky liquid on it.

Anyway, we'll wait and see, and I'll certainly report if it looks like I'm getting berries. The mother plant is inside the pool cage, so not too many ants.

If the cross worked, you will know in a couple weeks as the female flowers will show noticeable swelling. Even a week into it, you should see signs if you were successful. From pollination to ripe berries takes 5 to 6 weeks. If you think you see signs of swelling, post a pic and I'll confirm - I've seen so many of them that I can be nearly 100% sure of my assessment.

LariAnn

This message was edited Jun 4, 2012 3:30 PM

Sure thing, thanks!

Elaine

Update on the White Queen and Arno Nehrling together in that pot. I think the Queen has won . ..

Miss Muffet has gone a lot more green in the sunnier spot. I think I'll move her back to a bit more shade.

ps. my attempt at pollination did not take.

I just got a new (for me) Thai Caladium called "Pink Charm"; it has a bloom just a day or so from opening. My Galaxy has a bloom that just dropped pollen last night, so I went ahead and did the deed last night. I have 2 to 3 days grace for "premature" pollination so I'm hoping this one will work. Many of the crosses I did this Spring (over 25) have resulted in pots full of tiny seedlings. it'll be next year before I can see some colors.

LariAnn

Fly ahead 2 months: I hope everyone is having a good Caladium season. Everything seemed to flourish here this summer in spite of the sunny conditions. LariAnn,I'm sure you've had a BUSY summer.

I added 3 Hilo Beauty corms to Miss Muffetts, all planted at the same time. One one Hilo Beauty grew, but maybe I should have planted them horizontally instead of vertically. She did not start growing until 2 months after Miss Muffett. I believe that pot was a favorite of the chipmunk wars, and additional bulbs may have been eaten. They may be cute, but they have been rampant this year and destroyed much.

Does anyone know if HB goes into dormancy like Caladiums? Soon it will be time to pull them in as the nights will be going into the 50s and the soil will cool.

Cathy, yes my Hilo Beauties all die down to the ground here, as soon as the nights get cold at all.

Meant to include this picture, a pot full of HB's. Glad we don't have chipmunks, and the squirrels haven't yet acquired a taste for them!

Many of my Caladiums, having had an early start, are going semidormant already. Hybridizing continues, as I've got the Philodendron crosses ripening up and a late Alocasia pod ripening in the next few weeks. I even did a late summer Thai-Western cross (Pink Charm x Galaxy). Hilo Beauty does not naturally go dormant as Caladiums do, but can or is forced down by temps being too cold. If kept warm, it just keeps on going.

LariAnn

Ah ha! Is that the reason mine are petering out a bit already! I thought something was killing them off.

Thanks, Lari Ann, that's a relief!

Thanks to you both!

Marcia

Did you have a good season this year with your Caladiums, LariAnn?

Marcia,
This year the Caladiums I had done last year grew very nicely, but I did not do any new Caladium crosses this Spring. Nearly all my crosses were with Philodendrons in the same group as is the "P. selloum". I had so much success there that I have, perhaps, thousands of seedlings growing and many more ripening seedheads.

LariAnn

Any forums dedicated to Caladiums count me IN!!!! That would be awesome!!!

LariAnn - Your Thaibrids are absolutely SPECTACULAR!!!! We need to talk......lol....




Bill

Bill, I've tried to get in touch with you but got no response. How should we do it?

LariAnn

LariAnn - Email me your phone number to: CaladiumBulbs4Less@earthlink.net and I will get a hold of you , I promise!!!


Bill

By all means, get in touch you two!

We need to get LariAnn's Thaibrids on the market, and I'll be pleased to buy them from Bill.

I agree!