Plants may be raised from scale section, scale stem, section, stem section of amaryllis bulbs.

1. Amaryllis Bulb scale section
This is a method of separating and sprouting of bulb scales which have the power of regenerating bulb-lets in a region from the base to about 0.5cm above it. The scales are placed in slightly standing position in a moist fine sand and at a constant temperature of about 30°C. After three months the plant-lets from scales are lifted for planting.

2. Fractional scale stem sections
Selected bulbs of amaryllis or hippeastrum are cleaned by removing the roots, leaves and dry scales. The knife used in the cutting operation is sterilized to avoid spread of diseases. The bulbs are cut first horizontally keeping about 1.5 cm scale portion and basal stem portion of similar thickness and then longitudinally into small pieces, each containing scale and stem portions. Thus, 40 pieces of scale-stem sections can easily be detained from each bulbs of about 6.0 cm diameter. Cut pieces are treated with fungicide and planted in vermiculite or sand media for rooting. The cut-pieces become reddish in colour, gradually turn greenish and finally shoot arises from the junction of scale stem section within 35 to 40 days after planting. Roots come out from the stem portion during or before the appearance of shoot. These plantings are transferred in pot containing well drained compost.

3. Individual scale stem sections
In this method; the bulbs are cut into scale-stem sections as described earlier. Each section containing about 8 to 10 rows of scales, and a portion of stem is further separated into individual scale section having a small piece of stem. The sections are also treated with fungicide and planted in vermiculite or sand for regeneration. High humidity is maintained to prevent drying of scales. Shoot arises from the junction of the scale and stem within 40 to 60 days after planting depending on the atmospheric humidity as well as the size of sections. Generally, the roots come out from the lower portion of the young shoot. By this way, 120 to 125 plants are obtained from a single bulb of about 6.0 cm diameter.




4. Stem sections
In this method, the basal stem of the bulb was sliced-off just below the scale and exposed surface was dusted with rooting hormone. After 8 -9 weeks from planting, when a ring of tiny bulblets appeared around the base, the mother bulb was set in a gravel hydroponic bed and fed regularly with a standard nutrient solution. This method could not be used for commercial production of bulbs.

C. Micro-propagation
Organ formation from bulb scale of Hippeastrum is done and NAA and kinetin is found to be effective in bud and root development. Callus cultures are successfully established from explants of bulbs, floral peduncles of hybrid amaryllis.



Next : Cultivation and growth of Amaryllis and Hippeastrum