Roscoea

[mark smyth]

Today I knocked my small collection of Roscoea out of the large pot they all share. I bought them in 2013 and I'm amazed at how prolific some are or not

[mark smyth]

and some more

Now to divide them and give them their own homes in 2L long toms until they get a new home. I guess its easiest to split them every year

[Leena]

They look like some peony roots.

[latestart]

Which ones are you growing Mark. The roots all look very healthy. I found they like my garden so I have bought two new ones this year to add to what I have already. I decided to grow some from srgc seed ex. I had an excellent result but I might have been a bit too hopeful because I potted on the seedlings. I sunk them in their individual pots into a larger pot. I hoped I had given them plenty of drainage. I did mean to cover them over with a sheet of glass to keep the rain off them but got caught up in family stuff. 

[art600]

Mark

From whom did you buy your Roscoeas in 2013?

They all look very healthy.

Thanks

Arthur

[mark smyth]

From whom did you buy your Roscoeas in 2013?

http://www.twelvenunns.co.uk/nursery/plant/roscoea/

Some have produced only one extra tuber while some have become 4

[mark smyth]

Which ones are you growing Mark.

cautleyoides, cautleyoides early form, cautleyoides Jeffrey Thomas, Red Gurkha, Evening Star, Harvington Royal, Raw Silk

I see no difference between Evening Star and Harvington Royal. I asked Twelve Nuns about it but they didn't answer

[art600]

Mark
 
What mix did you use?

[mark smyth]

For the last two years they have been in a recycled bulb mix of grit, sand and top soil. Today they were planted also in recycled pot contents but more top soil was added

[GordonT]

Mark, nice growth on those plants! I'm trying to build a small collection here- a real challenge since they are virtually unheard of in Nova Scotia. Does your Red Gurkha ever set seed? I've been growing several others from  from SRGC seed exchange seed, but have never seen seed of Red Gurkha on offer. A few of my seedlings will be large enough to transfer to the garden this summer (if it ever arrives).

[mark smyth]

Does your Red Gurkha ever set seed?

I don't remember sorry.

I did collect a load of seed from cautleyoides early form

[latestart]

Having a reputation for killing plants indoors I bought outdoor hardy roots from Hartside Nursery near Penrith at an SRGC show. This is R. Cautleyoides. They produced big flower heads on sturdy stalks and it was interesting to see how the seeds were produced. I also bought Harvingtons Raw Silk.

[mark smyth]

You need to be very quick to collect seeds. One day its a pod and the next it has burst spreading the seeds

[latestart]

In February 2014 again from Hartside at an SRGC show I bought Evening Star and Harvington Royale. Both are purple and quite alike but there are differences. I have to say your two look identical. This year I got Lemon Guardian and McBeaths Pink. The former was sourced by the nursery from a breeder but he did say I was unlikely to find out much about it on the internet. I look forward to seeing what it produces. McBeath's Pink was highly regarded in recent trials. I will keep in mind what you have said about the seeds going fast. Would it help to put a bag over the head, to catch the seeds, as is done with hepaticas.

[Susan Band]

A note about roscoea seeds. They disperse On a rainy day.  If you are afraid you will miss them you can collect unshed seeds and hang in a net bag in the rain and they will then fall out. If you let the pods dry it is then a nightmare to open them. Susan