South African Bulbs 2015

[Paul Cumbleton]

Hi Maggi,
The lights at Gothenburg would still be useful for increasing the day length (especially in their northerly latitude) and the overall light intensity the plants receive and these should lead to improved growth. The operating costs should also be cheaper than traditional grow lights. I would imagine that these are the reasons they are trialling them. Though the 'myth' that UV improves compactness is so ingrained that it would not be a surprise if they were also under that misapprehension.

Paul

[SJW]

Can someone remind me, Freesia (and maybe other bulbs) are sensitive/don't require one of the major plant nutrients. Is is phosphate? And will it kill, or just ail the plants?

I think it's because South African soil is low in phosphates and the thinking therefore is that bulbs from that region are sensitive to the phosphate content in plant food/fertilizer. So ideally they should be fed with a no/low % P content fertiliser. Personally, I just use tomato food at 1/4 to 1/2 strength and haven't had any major problems apart from some minor leaf burn when I've made the solution too strong. It may be that a no P fertilizer regime is better, and I think Paul C does so for his South African bulbs? They're presumably a candidate for Ian Y's policy of a tsp of potash per pot in March/April...

[Paul Cumbleton]

Yes, the "low phosphate" regime was originally recommended to me by Gordon Summerfield based as Steve said on the low phosphate levels most of them experience in habitat. I actually use a 13 - 5 - 20 formulation, so low but not zero phosphate and this seems to work fine applied at half strength.

Paul

[Matt T]

Thanks Steve and Paul. I think they received an accidental dose of balanced feed when I was watering some young bulb seedlings, so looking a bit yellow at the moment. Hopefully they'll recover. My usual feeding regime is to use JI#3 in the potting mix (1 part in 3 or 4 parts total) and a dose of sulphate of potash once or twice in the spring so I'll keep them to this. Cheers.

[Rimmer de Vries]

So what does keep alpines dwarf and compact?
Paul

I think wind has a lot to do with compactness.  3 things come to mind from trying to take photos of plants on mountain tops. - bright light, constant wind, and cold (and often fog).

i would think that these things naturally select what lives and dies in the Alpine environment. so a different environmental without these things would yield different survivors/ thrivers.

 Rimmer

[Rimmer de Vries]

I know this is not a big deal to flower bulbs from mail order nurseries but this Thog dubium is looking so beautiful on a sunny windowsill.

[Maggi Young]

For those not familiar with these plants, "Thog dubium " is a nickname for  Ornithogalum dubium 

[Rimmer de Vries]

Geissorhiza imbricata in bloom in a pot now
supposed to be a stream side plant, it does love water.

Sorry for the sideways photos, they were upright when I posted them

[Rimmer de Vries]

albuca suavelons 1 yr from seed to bloom.

[ArnoldT]

Some South African treats.

Lachenalia mathewsii
Lachenalia 'unknown'.

[ArnoldT]

Massonia echinata fruits
Massonia pustulata fruits

[K-D Keller]

First flower of Babiana odorata. But the blossom is completely white. No idea which species.

Other pictures: Gladiolus tristis, Gladiolus liliaceus and Veltheimia capensis.

[angie]

First flower of Babiana odorata. But the blossom is completely white. No idea which species.

Other pictures: Gladiolus tristis, Gladiolus liliaceus and Veltheimia capensis.

Love your Babiana odorata, just love white flowers 

Angie 

[ArnoldT]

Approaching end of lachenalia season.

 
Lachenalia arbuthnotiae
Lachenalia latimeriae
Lachenalia zeyheri

[Chris Johnson]

Very nice, Arnold, you must have a large collection of this genus. I like the look of Lachenalia zeyheri but maybe a bit robust for pot culture?