How To Grow Amaryllis From Seed In 3 East Steps

You only need to do three steps to master how to grow amaryllis from seed. Not every gardener is comfortable with starting most plants in seeds because germination can be a meticulous process. However, you can consider starting seeds in the greenhouse to modify the ideal environment for amaryllis seeds.  

Knowing how to grow these trumpet-shaped blooms is relatively easy. While it’s more common to start amaryllis from bulbs, you can always use the seeds you can gather after the blooming season. This way, you will always have a productive garden season after season. 

How To Grow Amaryllis From Seed In 3 East Steps

 

Step #1. Seed collection and preparation

The first step for growing amaryllis from seeds is collecting the seeds themselves. You can always check your flowers and wait for them to fade after the season to ensure that you’ll be able to collect the capsules before they spill the seeds. Please wait for the amaryllis seed capsules to turn yellow and collect them before they split open. 

You may need to break the capsules yourself by hand, but some capsules should expel the seeds as you shake them. Catch the seeds using a sheet of paper and remove all the debris and damaged seeds from the mix. Be on the lookout for those with mold or have a different color as they may spread to the viable seeds if you don’t remove them. 

Lastly, don’t forget to soak the seeds in water overnight. This will serve as a test to know which amaryllis seeds will grow as those that float indicates damage. Immediately sow the seeds that sink to the bottom after you have dried them. 

 

Step #2. Sowing and maintenance

It’s ideal to plant the seeds immediately to ensure germination. You can grow them in the seedbed, but starting indoors in container pots would be more advantageous. Gardeners often use a mix of sand and peat as their medium and have one seed per pot. 

You can plant the seeds at a quarter of an inch deep and maintain soil moisture. A bright area but out of direct light would help amaryllis seeds sprout, and you can also place the pots in a heating mat. You want to keep the medium moist but never overwater to prevent rotting. 

 

Step #3. Acclimatization and transplanting

The seedlings should develop after two weeks, given the environment is stable. This is why using a greenhouse is advantageous as fluctuating conditions can prevent sprouting. Maintain the atmosphere for about four weeks and increase exposure to grow lights to encourage growth further. 

Once you notice true leaves, you can fertilize with a diluted general-purpose feed as well. You can transplant the plants five months after germination, but the emphasis is necessary on acclimatization. Gradually expose your amaryllis to the outdoor conditions for two weeks to prevent transplant shock. 

 

Caring For Amaryllis

 

Location

According to the University of Maryland Extension, the best place to grow amaryllis, especially during their active period, is somewhere with bright light. This should encourage linear and robust growth, and if you notice floppy leaves, the plants probably need more light. However, you must remove the plants from bright light if you want to extend their flowering period. 

 

Water

As mentioned earlier, the potting medium should always be moist to encourage the seeds to grow. This is also applicable when you notice a growth on the bulbs to help the emergence of flower stalks. Once the flowers fade, you can reduce the amount and frequency of flowering. 

 

Fertilizer

Amaryllis don’t necessarily need regular feeding. Still, please take note that fertilizing them after the flowering period is advantageous until they start dormancy. Any houseplant fertilizer would work well with amaryllis. 

 

General maintenance

If you don’t intend to collect seeds, you can cut back the flower stalks after the blooming season. This way, you can encourage reblooming. You can also support your plants if you notice the stalks becoming top-heavy. Lastly, remember to bring your amaryllis plants indoors before the first frost in the fall to protect them from the cold conditions. 

 

How To Encourage Amaryllis To Rebloom

You must initiate dormancy on your amaryllis bulbs around late summer to early fall if you want them to rebloom. To do this, withhold watering and place the plants somewhere dry and cool. Maintain this resting practice for around eight weeks, and you should see regrowth on your plants. 

 

Conclusion

It might be more common to start amaryllis from bulbs, but did you know that using seeds is also easy? One can learn how to grow amaryllis from seed in three simple steps, so gone are the days where you left the seed pods on your flowers untouched. After the flowers fade, you can wait for the pods to turn yellow for collection. 

Remove all the damaged seeds and debris, then soak the seeds in water to check which are viable for sowing. Discard those that float and dry those that sink for immediate planting. You can start amaryllis seeds in the greenhouse to provide the ideal environment for sprouting.

The maintenance of seedlings should also be comfortable indoors and no different from growing other plants from seeds. Acclimate your young plants for two weeks before transplanting them outdoors permanently. Overall, growing amaryllis from seeds is straightforward and fool-proof, given that you are diligent throughout the process. 

 

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