You've got nice plantst there in sunny FL:D

They are wonders to behold, for sure... I'm glad I got both of them, too! The fact that Sumatra proudly displays its parts is a very masculine thing! Hehe! And Misty is very feminine... I can't wait for mine to open! She's just pushing up scapes now... I got Amputo at the same time, but he's doing nothing, rather like your Vera! Very slow growers!

Lovely pictures, Cindee! You handle the camera well!

Jodi, is it just the camera difference, your Sumatra looks more wine red than mine. Mine has more a rusty orange color.

Cindee and Jodi,

Sometimes the failure to successfully pollinate is due to the ploidy or self-infertility, and sometimes it is simply the timing.

Try really hard to be patient and wait until the style curves upward instead of pointing downward. At this point, the three 'nodes' (or whatever you call them) of the stigma will be visually separate, and then it is time to apply the pollen.

Usually, the pollen ripens before the stigma is ready, but since the pollen remains viable for ample time, this should not be a problem.

BTW, I was unsuccessful at attempts to produce seeds on Sumatra, but the pollen did work (I think) for other diploids.

Needless to say, I'll be trying again this year. I have two Sumatra scapes ready to open in the next week or so and several others in the making.

BTW, Misty is a GOOD Mama, but selfing did not work for me.

Figuring out the 'secrets' is just as intriguing as the real thing, don't you think?

Oh! This addiction is FUN, even if sometimes you are disappointed. Just keep trying!

Cindee - I think mine is more wine red compared to yours... I'm not sure why, though... they came from the same grower, I'm assuming... it's a classic case of genetics in action, seeing the small differences in plants of the same variety... highly interesting!

Elizabeth - Before I began pollinating my flowers, I poured over past posts and scoured the web looking for information on how to do everything properly... there's a lot of good information out there! I can't remember who posted it, but I read about waiting until the style's upward curve was visible, letting me know it was receptive to pollen...

I've had a lot of fun, and learned a lot, just watching these flowers grow and open... I decided to pollinate everything, and hope for the best! If I get viable seed, I'll be happy... if I don't, that's ok... there's always next year! Just being able to enjoy the flowers is enough... seeds are a bonus! The failures are many, but figuring out the secrets, as you say, is half the fun! And once I find out who is Diploid and who is not, and make lists, breeding will be easier... to an extent... Mother Nature is the true key-holder, and it's up to her whether or not a flower is bred!

Hey, Jodi!

I spoke too soon! Two of the scapes now have 4 blooms each.

Awesome! This is one mysterious amaryllis...

Hey Jodi, the simple fact that my Sumatra is growing in Florida temps in direct morning sunlight and yours is inside in IL could drastically cause the color diferentation. How silly, neither of us took their growing conditions into account! lol

Eliz, I will try selfing Misty as well as crossing it with Sumatra. What do you think of trying them both with Charisma? I realize there is a ploidy-toidy issue here, but I am really ready to gamble with anything. And as for doubles, I can not get the hang of how to pollinate them. I did shove pollen down the throat of my Elvas, to no avail. I just don't know, even after going through of last year's posts, how to get doubles sex thingys together. How's that for technically speaking...ha ha have fun making babies! I can't wait to start sharing seeds again!

Cindee - Doh! I completely forgot about the light affecting coloring! Had a blonde moment! You're right... the winter sun would make my flowers a tad different in shade and size compared to yours, which get better sun and higher humidity... better all-around growing conditions!

As far as breeding the doubles, I try to use the pollen from the doubles on a single... it's the only way I can think to get something from the doubles since they haven't had the proper parts to breed naturally... doubles are the English Bulldogs of the hippi world! Hehe!

Cindee...Very lovely Sumatra and Misty. I can't wait to plant mine. One more month and the cybisters, trumpets and exotics will be planted.

I think you didn't see my last post in the "Honeymoon" thread. I wanted to send you pollens of Honeymoon if you want some together with my check for Pink Diamond. Maybe more seedlings if you want more.

Oh Maria, I'd love some pollen. My Pink Diamond was a bust. It aborted all seed pods on both groups of flowers. I hope you have much better luck with yours as it is such a beautiful contender. Still it holds it's own in size and beauty. I did miss your 'honeymoon' thread, I think. I'll go back and check it out. Don't bother about a check for Pink D. What seedlings do you have? Unfortunately, I have no decent ones to share right now, just some San Remo seeds and a few others coming along. You sent me the 'Gilmars', which are doing great, and also an "OS" seedling. Is that "Orange Soverign"? DUH my memory is slipping!

Well thank you so much Cindee! I will check my bulbs in the fridge and email you about my extra ones that you might want.

What seedlings I got? Geeezzz...a LOT my friend. A bunch of them are still in the "doughnut" container as I cannot seperate them yet due to lack of space. First ones to be seperated for sure would be Papilio "Improved" crosses with cybisters. Would you be interested with these? They definitely won't be pink...lol! Most probably and hopefully in the green side... :-)

How are your lights working out for you, Maria? I remember the picture you posted of your laundry room counter with the lights... a wonderful set-up! I wish I had a nice space like that! I'm thinking of getting one of those long tables that Sam's Club sells and setting it up under my east window to make more room for bulbs!

Interesting seedlings you have as well, Maria! I hope some of my future pollinations will result in green colored flowers... it's such an interesting and pretty color for flowers, and you don't see too many of them. Only a few nice ones...

Great pics of Great flowers Cindeea. Sumatra is new for me this year and Misty is a re-try. With Misty I'll try swapping pollen between my two bulbs and crossing with H. aulicum. The first time I tried growing 'Misty' my bulb quickly rotted. So this time I planted them in faster draining mix, etc.
Since Sumatra seems to produce plenty of offsets I won't try to self, but will put some Lycoris aureum on it and maybe I'll get lucky.

Maria, I ain't choosy when it come to shared seedlings! Don't go out of your way, though. You know I will appreciate anything you throw my way!

Hey Houstonpat...Happy New Year! Glad to hear that the Sumatra produces plenty of offsets. I really like this guy and would love more. Still, I will self it just for practice.

I just dusted my white non-zombie with some Charisma pollen. It seems to have a stigma poking up, even tho it doesn't have the ridged end. I tried it anyway! I also threw some Charisma pollen at my Elvas just for kicks.

We have been having a damp rainy New Year's day with a cold front following close behind. Soultan is on the east coast and was hoping to get over my way, but it seems his friends from Tampa will go to Fort Laud to meet up with them. Too bad, I was hoping to meet my friend.

We're in the midst of a winter storm, with whipping winds, frigid temperatures and lots of snow! I'm very happy to be indoors today! Keep an eye on your temperatures, Cindee! I'm not sure how cold your cold front will be, but if you get the bottom end of what we have now, you could get mighty chilly!

I'm very happy to hear that Sumatra multiplies readily! It's a wonderful flower! Do any of you have Giraffe? The first scape on mine only produced 2 flowers, but they are lasting a very long time! And the flowers, themselves, are very beautiful!

I have been selfing a lot of my flowers, and crossing some, as well... Limona is finally giving up her seed! I've got 2 pods popping open so far, with more to go... Limona has proven to be a very fertile variety... a definite keeper!

What a shame Soultan can't get over your way, Cindee... it would have been nice for you to meet him! Then you could tell us all about your visit! Oh well... maybe next time...

Hippi New Year To All!

I have some Giraffe bulbs coming on but I think it will be awile. Seems like they were soe of the most recent to arrive. I Am sure looking forward to seeing them!

I don't have Giraffe, heh one I don't have, imagine that!

With this day being so boring, except for Dennis' wonderful steak on the grill and taters with sour cream, butter and fresh chives, the day has been a wash. I am pollinating everything that blooms. Crazy? Waste of time? I hope not. I just tried some Misty on my Charisma...I know I am NUTZ!!

Jodi, I doubt we will get anywhere near your temps, however, I am wearing flannel just the same and have the heat ready to kick on tonight. Right now we are at a chilly 59 with a promise of 29 tomorrow night. I may have to cover a few things in the yard, especially my new vanilla babes. It is too bad about not meeting Soultan. We probably would have just talked about everyone on the forum, anyway! lol Poor guy, he comes to Florida when the temps are going to freezing.

Imagine what it's like here in winter! Stuck inside day after day... spring never comes fast enough! I've been wearing flannel for quite a while now, topped with the new pink fuzzy robe my son and his girl got me for Christmas! It's an X-tra large, so it's really cozy!

Today, the heater has been running non-stop! The wind is blowing hard at that side of the house, and cold air leaks in around the AC unit... the good news is... it should be nice and cozy for sleeping tonight! Feather comforter on the bed, and Emma IN the bed! Warm and toasty!

While Giraffe isn't the most prolific bloomer, I really liked the flower color and shape! And the size is perfect... not too tall or large, and not really mini, either... perfect! I hope you enjoy yours, Lizalily!

I hope it doesn't get too cold by you, Cindee... and you're making me hungry... I love baked taters with sour cream! Yum! Now I must scope out the fridge and see what I can scavenge... I'm hungry! Ooh, Clementines! Must gorge... :-)

LOL, Jodi you tickle me. Come for dinner tonight! I have left over stone crab and shrimp and I am going to make a lemon garlic butter sauce to saute the remains of seaffods and pour over some angel hair pasta tonight with some crusty garlic/chive buttered baguettes! YUM-O

I took Sumatra over to visit with Misty today hoping he would get his stigma up before Misty loses all her pollen. Kind of like a blind date for Hippis! lol
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They were chatting nicely last time I checked!!

Dinner sounds delicious! I wish!

Watch out or you'll wind up with more Hippi children than you know what to do with! The chatting quickly turns into way more! LOL!

I have noticed that it takes quite a while for Sumatra to turn up the stigmas... a couple of my flowers almost didn't look ready, but I pollinated before they faded... now, I hope they make seeds!

YOu guys are too much, LOL! Setting up dates for the children and leaving them to have at it! Now that is an idea, if I can find ones that match up in height, LOL. More fun then watching porno (I am guessing)! After all, they are doing it "The natural way".

Ah yes, the birds and the bees... I'm afraid I don't condone the same flower behavior in my apartment... there just isn't enough room! I always choose mates at the last minute and do the pollinating myself! If I left it up to them, I'd have no seed pods!