hippeastrum seedling

Dennis Kramb dkramb@badbear.com
Sun, 28 Nov 2004 19:53:41 PST
Thanks for all the responses, everyone!  It's a bit of a bummer to find 
I've done the not-so-best thing (again) but hey, we all have to learn by 
doing.  I think this bulb is big enough to survive it's forced dormancy.  I 
don't have any grow lights or greenhouses or anything, so it will have to 
make do with what minimal coddling I can provide.

Jim, I would love to come visit some time!  You're only a couple hours away 
so maybe after the Christmas season we can make some plans.

As for my other seedlings demise I'm sure they mostly died from drying 
out.  I grew them in a cactus tray and didn't always remember to water 
them.  3 lived for about 3 years, but by the 4th year only one was 
left.  Originally 30-something had germinated.

Dennis in Cincinnati



At 09:58 AM 11/28/2004, you wrote:
>Hi Dennis,
>
>Hippeastrum seedlings should be kept in continuous growth until the bulbs 
>are up to bloom size.  Don't let them dry out or they will go 
>dormant.  They often don't make it through a dry dormant period while they 
>are still very small.
>
>Too much moisture will rot them, the small seedlings are susceptible to 
>damp-off, but drying out is just as likely to kill them.  Use Subdue 
>fungicide to control damp-off.
>
>I keep them under fluorescent lights, 16hrs on/8 hrs off, for about 2 
>years at least.
>
>Drive up to Indy sometime, and I'd be happy to show you our set-up.
>
>Best regards,
>Jim Shields
>in central Indiana
>
>At 11:25 PM 11/27/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>>About 4 years ago I purchased some Hippeastrums at the store.  I 
>>attempted crossing different colored varieties with each other and got 
>>some seeds.  Not knowing what I was doing, I planted them.  Many 
>>sprouted, but eventually withered away.  Suffice it to say, only one is 
>>now left.
>>
>>About 2 years ago I learned "proper" care for mature Hippeastrums to get 
>>them to rebloom.  A buddy taught me to plant them in my garden during the 
>>warm summer months, and then lift them in winter.  It worked like a 
>>charm!  So this past spring/summer I did the same with my seedling and it 
>>nearly doubled in size.... to approximately that of a grape.
>>
>>At any rate, I recently lifted it and have it resting in my basement.  I 
>>really would like to nurture this thing to bloom.  I did a bit of 
>>Googling but couldn't find any good sites to get tips on raising 
>>them.  Is there anyone on-line that could share a few pointers for 
>>me?  I'm hoping that in 2 years from now I can get it to be big enough to 
>>bloom.
>>
>>Dennis in Cincy
>>
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>
>*************************************************
>Jim Shields             USDA Zone 5             Shields Gardens, Ltd.
>P.O. Box 92              WWW:    http://www.shieldsgardens.com/
>Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA
>Tel. ++1-317-867-3344     or      toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA
>
>
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