Stenomesson 2017

[jshields]

This is the first bloom for me on Stenomesson ecuadorense.  I received the bulb in Nov 2016 and it has been growing under fluorescent lights in my basement since then.  It is nominally a summer-growing species, and I dry it off and let it lose its leaves in autumn.





Jim

[ArnoldT]

Hi Jim:

Hope you are well.

Can you elaborate on the decision to grow this under lights in a basement instead of in a greenhouse.

[jshields]

Can you elaborate on the decision to grow this under lights in a basement instead of in a greenhouse.

Hi Arnold,

The bulbs came only about 15 months ago.  They are summer growing and from quite high-altitude as well.  They prefer not to get too hot, even in summer, according to Alan Meerow.  My greenhouses, even the big one with the swamp cooler, get pretty hot in summer, so most of my Stenomesson are under lights in the basement instead of out in a greenhouse.

Perhaps oddly too, the Griffinia are also kept in the basement instead of in a greenhouse.  Griffinia are from Brazil, growing in shade as I understand it.

Jim

[ArnoldT]

Jim:

thanks, I can see the reason for the cooler growing conditions.

[Maggi Young]

This is a  very nicely marked flower,  that I didn't know much about, grown at Kew - the photo was shared on Twitter by Miranda Janatka - Stenomesson pearcei

Miranda wrote : Stenomesson pearcei is native to Southern  Peru and  Bolivia, consistent cool nights are required to make these beautiful flowers appear and I believe we have felt it!

[brianw]

Think I still have some of this in the greenhouse. Must be 10 years or so since it flowered. Maybe I should be kinder to it again. ;-) Forget where it came from. The flowers are not very large.

[brianw]

Checked this morning. I have 1 pot labelled many years ago ~20 and another similar. One of these bulbs that wants to multiply rather than flower. If anyone knows the secret; is it feeding correctly or watering regime, or temperature etc. Mine is at 6-7C min over winter.