i don't have the x parkeri, but i have 10 rooted hippeastrum silhouette, and they're all growing. the biggest mother bulb (i have 2 motherbulbs) is now growing bigger very fast(i expect that she will bloom next year), so i think i'm doing something good. i have them in my sleeping room, with bright light and i water them if the soil is almost dried uit.

Here is some info (in Dutch) on Siloutte; some of it was left blank by the registring body. K 'Silhouette' registrant: Van der Valk B.V. 12/06/2007 Genus Hippeastrum Author G Herb. Prefix G Family Amaryllidaceae Author F Juss. Author SVF Prefix SVF Cultivar 'Silhouette' Cultivar Group Diamond Group Synonyms Trade Name Common Name Named After Species with subspecies etc. Description Beschrijving Samenvatting kleur: blauwrose 73A met wit 155D. 4 bloemen. Binnenzijde: paars 58A tot blauwrose 73A generfd op witte ondergrond. Helmdraden wit 155D met rose gloed. Stijl wit 155D met rose gloed. Bloemsteeltje bij bloei lengte kort tot medium, groen met anthocyane gloed. Steel lengte kort, groen met anthocyaan aan basis. Blad breedte smal tot medium, groen met witte hoofdnerf en anthocyaan (waarschijnlijk aan de basis). Vooraanzicht bloem driehoekig. (Bablefish rough translation: Description summary colour: blauwrose 73A with blank 155D. 4 flowers. Inside: purple 58A gene-inherited to blauwrose 73A on white subsoil. helmet wires blank 155D with rose glow. Style blank 155D with rose glow. Bloemsteeltje at flowering length briefly to medium, green with anthocyane glow. Stalk length briefly, green with anthocyaan to basis. Booklet breadth smal to medium, green with white head grain and anthocyaan (probably to the basis). Vooraanzicht flower triangular. ) Flower Primary Colour Flower Secondary Colour RHS 073A RHS 155D UPOV blue-pink UPOV white NDS1 blauwrose NDS1 wit NDS2 donkerrose NDS2 wit NDS3 rose NDS3 wit Variegation of Colour Flower generfd Primary Colour of Leaf Secondary Colour of Leaf Variegation of Colour Leaf Type of Inflorescence Number of flowers per inflorescence Flowering Time Relative Flowering Time Flowering Months Type of Flowers Fragrance of Flower Diameter of Flower 150 mm Height of Plant cm Underground Parts Chromosomes 2n = Propagation Clone / Population Sport of Sports Geography Introducer Name Date / Period Introduction City Country Registrant Name Van der Valk B.V. Date Registration / Reservation 12/06/2007 City Naaldwijk Country Raiser Name City Country Awards EDI Bulb Code 78535 Period Hybridisation Throckmorton Code NAGC Code

Donna, Thanks so much for the help, I know next to nothing about hybridizing, I've never really tried to pollinate things! I'm so excited about this process and I'm so excited for all the ideas I have. I can picture many colors, shapes and characteristics of flowers in my head and maybe if I work hard enough I can transpose them from my mind into existence! I've been thinking about many of the hybrids currently available, to breed them and have an idea of the future progeny seems almost impossible. I'm experimenting with them now to see the possibility to predict outcomes but I think my work will be better served with species. I think trumpets such as "Misty", "Pink Floyd" and "Germa" have really started a trend in breeding, I'm very interested to work creating new beautiful trumpets with an array of different colors. I've several trumpet species to work with, I guess I'll just have to try everything as it comes :) Josh

Hello Hans-Werner, Donna and Fred, Thank you all for your reply. Several years ago, I gave her the name 'Silhouette', but I don't know why ;) ... I think she had more pronounced stripes when she was young (or growing under more direct light?). I'm very much happy with Mrs. Garfield, I hope she'll bloom regularly now ... I had only hoped for a slightly brighter pink, these blooms do tend more towards red, but I don't want to complain! The plant stays at the big North-north-west facing window, there is no direct light whatsoever reaching them. But most of my plants thrive there, there's still enough diffuse light. 'Mrs Garfield' had much darker leafs when she received some evening sun in summer. I will post more pictures the coming days when all blooms are open. Thanks again! -the Klotz, Carl