The Science of Growing Sturdy Amaryllis
posted November 14, 2009 - 5:11amWhether you enjoy experimenting with plants or are looking for a fun science experiment to do with a youngster, this site is a must see. In 2005, experiments were performed on Paperwhite Narcissus by William Miller at Cornell University to resolve thin, weak stems that cause the flowering stalks to fall over. The premise was that feeding alcohol to the growing plants would stunt/slow their growth and cause shorter, stronger stalks without otherwise harming the plant or stunting the blossoms. The experiment was a success.
Harry Brindley proposed that alcohol would have the same affect on another tall, problematically top-heavy plant – the amaryllis. From late 2007 into 2008, Harry conducted an experiment with the amaryllis similar to the 2005 Cornell experiment. He recorded the progress of the experiment on his blog. Additionally, you can follow along in the journey through some incredible time-lapse video.
The experiment is broken into three parts. Naturally, all the parts are linked together on the site but here are the direct links as well, for your convenience.
If the first experiment has left you craving more, you’re in luck. Harry Brindley recently announced his new comparative amaryllis experiment. Previously, he used vodka to produce a stout beautifully blooming amaryllis. In this new experiment, his purpose is to see how much larger and taller the amaryllis can be grown on a dilution of alcohol (isopropyl) before the foliage gets leggy and the leaves topple over: He wants to determine the minimum dilution of alcohol to use for maximum results. The new experiment was started on October 22, 2009 so mark the page and follow the progress of what should prove to be another fascinating look into the life of amaryllis.
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Comments
Alcohol and Amaryllis
I wrote about the Cornell study with paperwhites and alcohol last year and I tried it and found it works great. I don't see why it wouldn't work for amarlyllis bulbs since they are closely related to narcissus bulbs and their requirements are pretty much the same. I just found a viable amaryllis bulb in the closet that I forgot about so I think I'll try it. I'm definitely going to follow Harry's progress.
For people who want to try this remember you need to use clear alcohol. Don't use beer or wine because it will kill your bulbs. Isopropyl alcohol might just work better becaue it's stronger and has fewer additives but it smells very unpleasant to me,even when It's diluted.
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