The Chatty Amaryllis Coop (let's keep it going)

I forgot, for next years coop...we will do it from wherever we can get the best deal and bulbs! We will definately check out any place you guys come up with.

I was just looking at Scheepers and they have a good assortment if they gave us a nice selection. I didn't look to see what their sizes or prices were.

Jeanette

Hey, I just remembered something. For you guys who want to grow yours in water, look at this site. This woman is so cool. Waterroots.com

I have begonias blooming in water using clay pebbles. I also have a brug but it doesn't do anything. Just sits there. Doesn't bloom and it doesn't die. Maybe I should give them some fertilizer.

Jeanette

One of my bulbs that I got from the co-op has started to bloom and then it fell out of the pot and to my amazement there was NO roots.......WIll it ever grow roots?????? What do I do with it???????

Poppy and Genna, I would plant them in soil as soon as the flower is spent.

Everyone, I'm so happy to see you post again, and I'm waiting for more pictures! I'll be back a bit later for chatting.

Until then, hugs,
Alexandra

Well, it seemed like the time to check my bulbs in the bags and Moonlight had a peek of a bud starting, so it's off to the potting shed (kitchen), Nymph just seemed to call out to me for the same treatment and Apple Blossom has a tiny bud or something white and thick (maybe a baby!) down near the roots! 3 more Amaryllis pots in the kitchen window will displace the cat food dish (my Poodle can't get it up there).
My vey tall Jewel almost has reached the round hoop part of the plant stake from HD, and it's one of the taller ones.
Some day in the coming year there should be some pretty flowers for me to post here and I'm just a waiting and tapping my nails. (LOL not really, but I would like to see a bloom). Keeping my camera ready here @ home!
Hugs,
Sheri

BTW --Any suggestions for where to locate those clay potting pebbles. Shipping cost makes that out of the question for mail order and I can't find them anywhere??

Pasadena at last!
=^..^=

Yes Birdie. You can get those, I think they call them "expanded clay pellets" at any hydroponic store. Most will sell them by the pound.

Jeanette

Wow!! That is georgeous! These pictures are great. It is wonderful to see all of these blooms that this co-op produced.

Thanks, Jeanette! From what you wrote, I was able to find a store in a neighboring town that sells hydroponic gardening supplies, in fact, that's their name!! I'm gonna call them tomorrow for a price check.
Many years ago, there were some home party sales type shows for square pots (sort of a 3 piece system - with a window to seee the water level) that I think used this type of medium.

I just pulled the Pasadena from the window to check for odor in the water. Whew! Almost ALL of the roots were dark brown and mushy. After very carefully and GENTLY tuggingto remove any dead ones, I ID'd and removed all of the rotting roots. there were 3 or 4 very good roots with new healthy little white "feelers" starting. I rinsed all the stones and replaced with fresh water with a little (tbsp) H2O2. I a somewhat surprised since this bulb is the one that has begun to grow in the past week or so (maybe when it's new roots began to work!) I looks like it is trying to sent up 2 flower heads, so I surely hope that it survives.
I plan on checking the roots on any of my water bulbs for rotting if they start smelling~~heck, it was just like stagnant flower vase oder! A big "Duh" to me!
Hopefully our collective experiences will help all of us.
Sheri
(edited for missed words)

This message was edited Dec 22, 2008 9:45 PM

This message was edited Dec 22, 2008 9:46 PM

Sheri did you look at that site I posted? Waterroots.com ? She just uses water. No peroxide. I do think the peroxide helps but I don't use it every time I add water to mine. Like I said I have an Angel Wing Begonia blooming in just plain water with the pellets.

Jeanette

I just found it, Jeanette. Here is the link for the site mentioned about water roots
http://waterroots.com/aboutwaterroots.htm :
Thanks for the info ;-)

Sheri

Yes, I started using that method on some of my stuff but not all.

Now my daughter does not want any soil in her house at all and is trying to gradually convert all of her plants. However, she has some huge brugs and is going to have to put them outside or do something with them.

She swears soil is the culprit when it comes to the gnats. Besides produce that is. She only uses potting mixes if she has to, like for starting seeds etc.

Jeanette

I have had a horrible problem with grey mold actually growing on the top of the soil in a number of my potted plants. First time in my life ever seeing this. Wonder if it's the type of potting soil mix or what...but I sure don't like it. I do keep my house on the cool side 60*-64* usually, but it isn't humid, at least not for me.

My Black Pearl has 8 flowers on one stem! Of all the bulbs I got this year these are amazing. Maybe next year we could do a coop with the place these came from.(?) Anyone else I sent the BP to having any luck?
Not one of mine from last year bloomed. What did I do wrong? Don't want that to happen next year so what's the best way to have beautiful healthy blooms next year or in the spring?
All of the pics I have seen here are so gorgeous...good job everyone!

How are you feeling cat? I hope the antibiotic got rid of that bug that had you down for so long. Remember, lots of Vit. C this time of year especially.

Happy holidays to all.

This message was edited Dec 23, 2008 11:34 PM

Wineaux where did you get them? What company? That is a nice bloom.

Jeanette

Have a Merry Christmas, everyone!
Hugs,
Alexandra

Has anyone else using the water technique found rotting, mushy roots? I am wondering if this is a commom problem when "planting" these bulbs in water.

Here is a very interesting and informative site that might answer a lot if not all of your questions. I haven't read it all, but it looks pretty good.

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/AmaryllisBloom.html

Merry Christmas to you to Goofy.

Jeanette

Jnette. I got them at a local nursery that also had a nice varity AND, the bulbs were bigger...so maybe size does matter ;-) chuckle chuckle

I don't have the info right here in front of me and I am too tired to get up and get the tag. Others have mentioned other great bulb sites too so I'm just tossing another one into the ring. This is one addiction I didn't expect.

To all a Merry Happy Holiday and I hope Santa is very good to you.

Susan

Thanks Wineaux, and the same to you.

Jeanette

This is the Black Pearl...they look more red in the picture but they are more like a deep black cherry.

another one...I need a new camera. I wish I could show you the true color. This is 2 stems with 4 flowers not one stem with 8 flowers...LOL and only about a foot tall.

This message was edited Dec 25, 2008 10:56 AM

this one is almost 24 inches with another stem coming up fast. I have a Jewel getting ready to open too, can someone tell me how to play bee?

Wine,
If you look in one of the flowers, you will see: 6 antlers bearing pollen on their tops, and one pistil, that trifurcates. Usually the first day it flowers, the pollen is unripe (the little heads are quite smooth), but the next day they are ripe (the dusty appearance).

The pistil takes a little longer (maybe the second or third day) to be ready to accept pollen. It "opens up" and the tip will look like a little tripod. That's when you can apply pollen by picking some up with a q-tip and dabbing on the "tripod". You can use pollen from the same flower, same plant but different flower, or other Amaryllis in your collection.

In your 2 pics above, it looks like the pistil needs a bit more to be ready. In the pic I'm showing you (the last pic I posted some days ago on this thread), the pistil is ready to take some pollen; do you see the opened tripod? That's what you have to wait for. Then dab-dab-dab!

Congrats on the BP, really lovely!

Oh wow! I see xactly what you are saying. Can I save the pollen on a q-tip until the one I want to cross with opens? And after I do that what am I looking for? DOH... novice here :-)

Thanks

Merry Christmas

You can gently remove the pollen heads with tweezers, and let them dry a little, than pack them in little manillas (I think) until needed. I think (read somewhere on Amaryllis forum) that you can successfully store pollen in your refrigerator for longer times. I'll try see if I find that thread... oh, here it is, an interesting read. Pollen saving is somewhere on Dec 16th, posted by raydio...

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/677628/

Lots of luck, Wine-bee!

Here's another view of my OS. If you look at the left flower, there's no pollen heads anymore... a goofball tweezed them away!

Best Season's wishes and merry Christmas to all!
Goofy

I got my first Amaryllis yesterday for Christmas!! It has just the beginning of green showing. The directions say to put it someplace cool dry and dark? Really even with the green foliage showing?
Robin

Hey, Robin! Congratulations and I wish you will enjoy your Amaryllis now and for many years to come!

If you plant it, then put it in a bright place (mine are on shelves on a south window). They like good light. If you want to store it a bit more (various reasons: no time to plant now, no pot to plant it in, out of town...), then yes, keep it in a cool dry dark place. This will slow down the growing process and buy you time to make whatever amendments you need.

If the "green" that's showing is a bud nose, I would say do not delay planting too much, we all want to enjoy the flowers, and we would wait for some pics (I forgot about some of mine, and one of them flowered in the bag)! If it's leaves, do not despair. The normal Amaryllis flowering time is spring. Just plant, water, give it light, and your bulb might flower for you then.
The bulbs sold for holidays are treated so they would flower in winter, but I suspect this isn't 100% successful. Some plants are stubborn...

Lots of luck!
Alexandra

Thank You Alexandra. I,m going to plant it today. Ill post progress.
Robin

I am finally beginning to get out of the idea that Amaryllis's are JUST for Christmas time. They are for whenever they do their thing. Whether it is Christmas, spring or summer. I think they can be enjoyed whenever.

Jeanette

Aphrodite opened up for me this morning, she is a little pinker than the BB pic, but that's ok, she's gorgeous.

another

Gorgeous, Robin! And what's the bud peaking in the first pic? Or you want it to be a surprise for New Year's?

It's Pasadena for the second time coming up there. I have a Stargazer and a Papillo coming up too. Not sure what Red lion, Minerva and Apple Blossom are going to do yet. so far they only have leaves. I'm hoping they will get their stalk like Papillo finally did after sending out leaves first.

Here's one of my Christmas presents I just had to show you.

Ha, ha! It is a great present, Robin! Thanks for sharing. Did you give her a name yet (It's a she, right?)?

Here names is Pebbles. Her daddies name is Cocoa.

She is a doll, and Pebbles is a wonderful name for a little girl like that.

Jeanette