South African Bulbs 2015

[johnw]

Massonia saniensis seed kindly sent by Paul is sprouting.  One of the summer growers and leaves just emerging under the gravel on M. wittebergensis.  As Paul knows I mistakenly sowed the latter last autumn and up it came so I kept in under lights till February, dried it off, kept it at 5c and now we get a second growing season in one year.

First year seedlings of Massonia I keep bone-dry but what of second year old seedlings? Should they get a drink or stay parched?

johnw

[SJW]

First year seedlings of Massonia I keep bone-dry but what of second year old seedlings? Should they get a drink or stay parched?
johnw

I'd also be interested to hear how people treat these seedlings in the early years. I'd have thought that if first-year seedlings kept bone dry over summer survive OK then the larger, second-year bulbs would be equally fine under this regime?

Here's Ornithogalum fimbrimarginatum in flower. Not sure if this species is proteranthous but the leaves - lovely earlier in the season - are now going over.

[Anthony Darby]

Here's a pot of  Massonia sp. They just get what the weather throws at them. You can see that a snail has been at the leaves. 

[ArnoldT]

Knifophia northiae  surviving ten years outside. Originally from Ellen Honig's Seneca Hill Nursery

[fermi de Sousa]

Yesterday Hesperantha humilis started to open a couple of blooms! I brought the pot to work so that I could get a pic of the open flower, but I think the exterior is also wonderful!
cheers
fermi

[Matt T]

That's a beautiful wee thing, Fermi.

[Darren]

I've never seen open flowers on mine. It flowers in mid-winter and in UK light and temps it barely even tries to open!

[Darren]

A couple of honorary South African 'bulbs' - summer dormant tuberous Pelargonium. These two species flower at the start of dormancy.

Pelargonium auritum with almost black flowers, and Pelargonium curviandrum. Both in approx 10cm clay pots.

[Hans J]

here are some pics of my Massonia wittebergensis ( summer growing ) :

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12729.msg336899#msg336899

Enjoy
Hans

[Steve Garvie]

Cyrtanthus epiphyticus

[François Lambert]

This must be the right place for asking a question about Veltheimia bracteata seedlings.  I have sown seeds last year in fall, and they germinated very well.  In May I stopped watering them with the intention to resume watering in September.  However, not only have they kept their first leave untill now, but they all start pulling up a new leave now.  So, should I start watering then again from now on or not ?  I read somewhere that the best way to loose these plants is when they are not kept bone dry over summer.

Thanks for your advice !

[ArnoldT]

Francois:

I have a pot full of Veltheimia bracteata that sits on the floor of the greenhouse during our summer months.

The mother bulb is very large as you can see from the attached image.


It just started to push up some leaves on a couple of the pups that have formed.  I watered it  and place outside in a shady spot.

[Chris Johnson]

This is a quick (and lousy) picture taken today of our Veltheimia bracteatas. They have always been reluctant to die down in the summer so we keep them moist and in good light. They flower well each year.

[Maggi Young]

I love the way the bulbs are distorting the sides of the pot in Arnold's picture. Proof that there is good growth going on, if any were needed!

I see you've just got a "few" Veltheimia, then, Chris!!

[Chris Johnson]

I see you've just got a "few" Veltheimia, then, Chris!!

Just a few, Maggi 

Clearly not playing by the rules; must get them to rest next year.