Lewisia cotyledon

[Gene Mirro]

I have some old potted plants of Lewisia cotyledon that have developed bare trunks about 2 inches long.  I will be planting them in the ground.  Should I leave the trunks exposed above ground level, or should I bury them?

[ranunculus]

Gene, I would be tempted to bury them in the ground to the bottom of the bare trunks and then top dress around the trunks with grit or pebbles thereby allowing air to reach the vulnerable trunks.  This would be the regime when potting exhibition lewisias on into larger pots.

[fermi de Sousa]

A friend in Adelaide asks "It would be great if you could ask the SRGC forum about how to handle old Lewisias with long stems behind the growing rosettes.  I have several Lewisias that are roughly 10-12 yrs old. Each has a long ugly trailing stem behind the rosette. What do I do? Bury it? Cut it off and hope to re-root? What happens in Nature? My only Lewisia book makes no mention despite discussing all the wild species and shows most of them in the wild."

I wonder if Gene had success with what Cliff suggested or if he should try treating them as cuttings and if so, when would be the best time to do this,
cheers
fermi

[Martinr]

Hi, Cliff's method works as long as the trunks can be kept reasonably dry. The real killer is winter wet in the UK which is why most plants are grown in pots. If your climate is reasonably dry in Winter and you're growing outdoors then try sinking as Cliff suggested.

With old plants I'd be tempted to try taking cuttings as well. Two chances of success!

The best time is as the plant is starting to grow in Spring (leaf rosettes showing brighter green in the centre). I slice off a rosette with about an inch of bare trunk, tidy it up and root in coarse sand. It can be a bit hit and miss with very old plants.

Good luck

[Graeme]

any tips for rooting cuttings?

I have just 1 plant of Archangel left and I don't want to loose it

[Martinr]

Never heard of anyone trying root cuttings on Lewisias, I'd take a rosette off your plant as suggested earlier in the thread. Come and have a chat on Sunday. I'll be about just after judging and again after a pub (hic!) lunch