Vices, Daphnes and hybrid Lewisias....how's that for a thread?

[Michael J Campbell]

Michael, I certianly didn't mean to snipe, just being my usual pedantic, silly self. Please forgive me.

Your are forgiven.

[Tony Willis]

Michael

they are wonderful.I have seen the occasional cross on the show bench but nothing like those.

I always find women with a mans name are pedantic,I have been married to one for 39 years.Its the problem with having their name always spelt wrongly isn't it Leslie as hers was yesterday at the Birmingham conference?

[David Nicholson]

Michael, I must just let you know how much I have enjoyed your Lewisia pictures, absolutely marvellous. I am gradually building up a collection of Lewisia species from Ron Ratko seed, together with a range of L. cotyledon hybrids from my own collected seed from plants originally grown from seed purchased from Chilterns; together with odd species plants I buy when I see them.

I have one small rediviva I have had for three years now but it has never flowered. When it starts to die back I let it dry off, I re-pot it when growth shows through the grit again, and I feed fortnightly in the growing season with a dilute balanced feed. It always looks healthy enough-but no flowers. This year, it didn't die back at all, but I still let it dry off, and re-potted it  as per normal in September/October and again it looks healthy enough now. Can you suggest where I am going wrong please?

[Michael J Campbell]

David, Rediviva starts to grow about the end of September or early October and this is when you pot it on, water moderately at first and then plunge the pot (clay pot) in sand and do not water again until the spring flush of growth. Just keep it damp over the winter.
Do not over feed it or you will only get foliage and no flowers. Very gritty soil and full sun at all times is required for flowering,especially when it is dormant in the summer, much the same as crocus. Bake well in the summer and definately no water on the caudex when it starts to die down in late spring. You should then get lots of flowers at the end of May or the beginning of June.

cheers.   

[Lesley Cox]

Thank you Michael, for forgiving me. I'm trying to lighten what has been a foul week and promises to be another, at my job. I may either be dismissed or else give in my notice tomorrow at a meeting I'm required to attend.

Your hybrids are just fantastic, especially the yellow rediviva hybs. However did you achieve those? Lewisias do well for me so I'll try a little fiddling with a brush this year and see what "cooms oop."

I couldn't find this thread all day yesterday, so lots of lovely things to catch up on. I see I was at a Birmingham conference! Must have slept through the whole thing. What is you wife's name Tony?

[Michael J Campbell]

Anyone that would like to view my Lewisia pictures can do so here.

Sorry if some of the Pics  are double posted, but I am strugling with Vista.


http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/michaelJcampbell63/24022008LewisiaCollection1?authkey=VFRrbns4MNw

[Maggi Young]

but I am strugling with Vista

I hear that lots of folk are doing that too, Michael.. it doesn't seem to be easy to work with!
What a delight to see all those pictures together .....it's like instant summer!

[art600]

Michael

WOW!!!  I could spend a lot of time looking at the website.  Thank goodness for the slideshow to let these wonderful images just glide past.

[Michael J Campbell]

Maggi,it is not difficult, just different to everything we have done before,and I am working on a laptop with nurseryman's hands.
It is much too sensitive and and too fast for a slow worker like me. I mean it is a long way from a spade and shovel.

[Michael J Campbell]

Your hybrids are just fantastic, especially the yellow rediviva hybs. However did you achieve those?

Lesley, with great difficulty and a lot of time and patience.

[David Nicholson]

Thank you Michael, for forgiving me. I'm trying to lighten what has been a foul week and promises to be another, at my job. I may either be dismissed or else give in my notice tomorrow at a meeting I'm required to attend.

Lesley, all the best for whatever you face on Monday and the hope that the matter finishes in a way that you would wish. Just remember if the going gets tough that an awful lot of people throughout the world will be with you in thought. Sock it to 'em girl.

[David Nicholson]

David, Rediviva starts to grow about the end of September or early October and this is when you pot it on, water moderately at first and then plunge the pot (clay pot) in sand and do not water again until the spring flush of growth. Just keep it damp over the winter.
Do not over feed it or you will only get foliage and no flowers. Very gritty soil and full sun at all times is required for flowering,especially when it is dormant in the summer, much the same as crocus. Bake well in the summer and definately no water on the caudex when it starts to die down in late spring. You should then get lots of flowers at the end of May or the beginning of June.

cheers.   

Michael, good advice and I shall follow it to the letter, thank you.

[Maggi Young]

it is not difficult, just different to everything we have done before

but different often IS difficult, then,isn't it!      I had to deal with a fancy new photocopier at work today and got in a real muddle... everything was different!!! 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Michael,
I just discovered this thread and your wonderful Lewisias.
As Lewisias were what brought me to Alpine gardening many years ago - I still have a special corner for them in my gardening heart !  Your collection just blew me of my feet.  Many thanks for sharing it.

[Tony Willis]

Lesley my wifes name is of course Lesley always spelt by everybody but me as Leslie.

 Work is often s... but just look forward to retiring.I did it 10 years ago and it has been great. Once you get to a certain age you can be totally offensive to the intellectual pygmies one has to work with without ever worrying about the sack.Once you have gone they are soon forgotten.

Michael get somebody to put you back on xp.