How to Grow Hippeastrum From Seed

Preparing to Plant Hippeastrum Seeds

• 1

  Collect the ripened seed pods from a hippeastrum plant. You will know the pods are ripe when they expand and start to crack open.

• 2

  Place the seeds in an arid location to dry for about 24 to 48 hours. If you aren't going to plant the seeds right away, place the hippeastrum seeds into a paper envelope and place in an arid location until you are ready to plant the seeds.

• 3

  Scoop out a good quality seeding mix into a wire basket or colander. Sift the medium to eliminate any large particles that can interfere with the germination of the hippeastrum seeds.

• 4

  Place the sifted seeding mix into a seeding tray, individual 4-inch pots or a seedling flat. Pack the mix firmly into the tray, pots or flat using the bottom of a 4-inch plastic pot, a drinking cup or a small piece of wood.

• 5

  Soak the seeding mix with water. You can dip the tray into an irrigation try that contains about 1 inch of water, or mist the mix with water until it is saturated. Let all excess water drain away before you proceed.

• 6

  Create rows in the seeding flat or tray that are about 2 inches apart and about 1/4 inch deep. If you are using pots, lay about a 1/2 inch layer of coarse, damp sand over the seeding mix. Using damp sand will help keep in moisture.

• 7

  Put the pots, tray of flat into a warm location. The temperature needs to remain at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Planting Hippeastrum Seeds

• 8

  Plant one to two hippeastrum seeds down each row in the seeding flat or tray, spacing the seeds about 1 inch apart. Plant five to six hippeastrum seeds, keeping each seed about 1/2 to 3/4 inch apart if using pots.

• 9

  Cover the hippeastrum seeds with no more than 1/8 inch of seeding mix, or fine sand.

• 10

  Stretch out a layer of clear plastic wrap over the seeding tray or flat. If using pots, you can use plastic bags just make sure the bag does not touch the seeding mix or sand. Secure the plastic wrap or plastic bag with rubber bands to help keep warmth in. Germination of hippeastrum seeds can begin in approximately two to four weeks.

• 11

  Remove the plastic wrap or bags once germination begins.

• 12

  Transplant the hippeastrum seedlings when they have a set of leaves if using a try or flat. If using pots, transplant when they are about 2 to 3 inches tall.

• 13

  Fill up a 6-inch plastic pot with a good quality potting mix until it's about three-fourths full.

• 14

  Scoop out a hippeastrum seedling from the flat or tray using a tablespoon or small trowel. For pots, lay the pot on its side and gently slide the pot from the root system.

• 15

  Plant a hippeastrum seedling into its new growing container. Fill the container with potting mix.

• 16

  Water each of the hippeastrum seedlings thoroughly. Plan on watering sparingly until new growth begins.