What happens if I pollenate my Amaryllis?

Just wondering: if my fuzzy legs touch the pollen on my blooming Amaryllis, and then they rubbed some of the pollen onto the stamen, would I be enhancing the production of a new bulb?



How do new bulbs form anyhow?



Thanks in advance for you responses!

What happens if I pollenate my Amaryllis?
When you do this you would be enhancing seed production, not bulb production. You can grow amaryllis by seed (rarely done except by people wanting new varieties) or by bulb.



New bulbs in an amaryllis grow off to the side of the parent bulb, underground. When I repot (or dig up outside) my amaryllis plants, I break off these new bulbs and eventually start new plants. Most of the time, I don't have to worry about all of these newer, smaller bulbs being produced outdoors, but when an amayllis has been in a single pot for quite a long time (indoors), then the new bulbs usually have to be broken off during repotting.



P.S. I have reread your additional comments: An amaryllis plant reproduces by both sexual (seed) and asexual (bulb) reproduction. And I have seen just the tiniest piece of a bulb which has fallen on the soil surface produce plants.



There is no movement of fertilized eggs down the plant to the bulb. New bulbs are genetically identical to the parent plant; seeds usually are not since two sets of genes came from two parents.
Reply:Thanks for your informative answer. I think I will go the bulb route!

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Reply:You sure can. Even better if you have 2 different varieties so you can cross pollinate.



It will form a seed pod, rather roundish, the will eventually turn yellowish when it is ripe. You'll find a ton of flat seed in there. They germinate rather rapidly too. The only down side is that they'll take anywhere from about 3-5 years to grow into a blooming size plant.



Anyhoo, it's kind of a fun thing to do and see in action. Be aware that it may put a strain on the parent bulb that could limit its own ability to flower next year.



Enjoy!
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