Expert: Long Island Gardener - 3/24/2008

Question
I received an amaryllis growing kit for Christmas.  After following the directions, I grew a beautiful, tall amaryllis with 4 bright magenta flowers.  After the flowers died, I snipped them off.  Shortly, what I thought to be more flowers,  grew in their place. They were not flowers, however, but grew into 4 separate  1/2 inch pods.  After several weeks the pods dried up and opened. They each contained many 1/4 in or so flat brown things.  I cut them off and bagged them not knowing what they are or what to do with them.
Any ideas?????
Thank you, Elaine from NH

Answer
Sounds to me like you snipped off the petals without removing the flowers.  If so, your Amaryllis plants put a lot of energy into building a seed collection for propagating the species.  Next time, cut lower.

If you're interested in planting these as a Summer project and you have a lot of patience, you may be able to build your own collection for giving away your own 'kits' for Christmas -- IF the flowers were pollinated.  Self-pollinated flowers would probably produce weaker bulbs in the end -- in theory.  We are also assuming that you did not remove the Seedpods before they were fully mature (in perhaps a month).  Open up the pods and see what you have -- the seeds are thin and made inside the shrinked up pod.  Remove seeds and dry out several days before planting in Soil.  Maintain constant moisture until you see them germinate.

One more thing: It takes around 5 years for a new Amaryllis plant to flower.

A long term project, but you know how time flies.  Good luck -- and if you need any further instructions here let me know.  Thanks for writing.

L.I.G.