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Amaryllis/Hippeastrum

Can worsleya seeds be killed by cold?

8 years ago

So I decided I'd bite the bullet and get some worsleya seeds for myself for Christmas (well, not exactly biting the bullet since it's not a punishment... :)) but my issue is that the seeds I'm considering are in Brazil. If I lived in the south this wouldn't concern me, but I'm in New York and I can't exactly expect the 60° weather to continue much longer. So my question is, will worsleya seeds be damaged by cold? I really want to get some of these before I have to start considering my textbooks for next semester, but I also don't want to pay all that money for dead seeds...

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Comments (4)

macroclemys
8 years ago
I can't be certain, but they should be ok. Seeds like hippeastrum or worsleya that remain viable when dry (i.e orthodox seeds) are generally able to tolerate freezing when dried. Of course there could be exceptions to this rule...

Bill
sorceresslelia thanked macroclemys
bluebonsai101
8 years ago
I think they store a lot of these seeds at 4C in drying agents for a long time (Hippi seed anyway), but I could be wrong. Seriously though, I know you are totally psyched to get these, but why pay way too much to get seed that you will germinate the worst time of year when you can wait until spring and have an easier time of it? I do irrational things like this all the time, but I'd personally hold off and get seed or seedlings in the spring when they can go outside and enjoy life more than in a window. Good luck with whatever you decide, Dan
sorceresslelia thanked bluebonsai101
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I'm a member of the Worsleya forum and I am one of the one that posts seed availability.....you do not need to be an expert....please join and learn.....for example, being able to grow Hipps has nothing at all to being able to grow Worsleya....the growing conditions are completely different.....Worsleya grow in pure scoria or pumice and are absolutely evergreen......if you put them in potting mix you will have a dead Worsleya in no time. The experts there (I am not one of them) are very helpful and there is lots of great info in the old posts......I've only ever posted one pic of my Worsleya and they were not in flower....it is not required and please do not feel like it is. These are truly awesome plants worth some effort if you have the time :o) Dan
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Hi Fred, I have 2 of my large Worsleya with bloom spikes right now in the basement. With any luck I will have flowers in a week or two and if I'm really lucky I will have seed pods and even seed in about 4-5 months. Assuming all that happens I will have seed for sale at that time. I also sometimes sell small 2 year old seedling plants, but I sold maybe 40 last summer so do not know if I will cull the herd again this summer. If I have anything I will let people know on here as I did last summer. I will likely take pics of my flowering plants and post them somewhere on here if I get the motivation for stacking pics. I must say, this is one of the few plants that even though I have seen them bloom many times now I still look forward to seeing them in bloom - and they are one of the few plants my wife actually likes that I grow :o) Dan
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Hi Nancy, OK, so if it was shipped legally and the leaves and roots had to be cut off then maybe….again, it should have an obvious bulb neck if it is a Worsleya as there is no reason to cut that off for shipping. If it is a Worsleya then pot it in pure cinder or perlite or pumice (in perlite it might fall over easy until it gets new roots). I got in plants with no roots or leaves and if you put them on a heat mat in pure drainage material and water every couple of days then you will be amazed at how fast they grow new roots. The bulb and leaves look nothing like a Hippi so hopefully you have a very nice friend indeed! How large is the bulb in diameter? Best of luck :o) Dan
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bragu_DSM 5
8 years ago
i will let you know that i purchased some of the seeds from a person in brazil

^_^ and although i got a couple extra 'bonus' seeds, not a one germinated. Not one.

Be wary. And yes, it was about this time last year. And it took about a week longer than posted. All in the FWIW department.

dave
sorceresslelia thanked bragu_DSM 5
kaboehm (zone 9a, TX USA)
8 years ago
I bought a single seed from Australia. I think the cost with postage was about $30 US. The seed arrived crushed and never germinated. Sometimes it pays to wait.

Now I have healthy plants from seeds bought from someone HERE and I have a 2-year old plant. Worsleya blooms can be anything from pale / nearly white (they'll tell you it's blue) to the AMAZING BEAUTIFUL FANTASTIC BLUE that Dan's plant are. At least if you know the parent, you have a better chance of not being disappointed. With any luck, there may be some seeds or plants available HERE next year!

Some things are worth waiting for!
sorceresslelia thanked kaboehm (zone 9a, TX USA)

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