Galanthus in December 2016

[johnw]

The uniqueness of the Adjarian population is that these plants not need a  cold dormant period.

Ru - What exactly does this tell us of the cimate of Adjara?  Is there no winter there, a very mild winter or is the growing season very short followed by an immediate return to winter so plants do not grow in autumn?


Your Christmas Angel could be a Whirling Dervish!  It reminded me of something very familiar!


john

[Ru]

Ru - What exactly does this tell us of the cimate of Adjaria?  Is there no winter there, a very mild winter or is the growing season very short followed by an immediate return to winter so plants do not grow in autumn?


Your Christmas Angel could be a Whirling Dervish!  It reminded me of something very familiar!


john

Adjara - humid subtropics. The population is located in the river valley. The gorge gets warm during the day but at night the cold air flows down through the gorge. In the morning frost. Altitude 150-200m. Period with stable negative temperatures is very short. The end of December and the first half of January. Flowering in January. Plants large, sometimes very large. The bulbs are readily propagated by division.
Most plants of this population is only available when using climbing equipment.

[Brian Ellis]

I was surprised by the size of its bulbs

Yes they are enormous but then look at the leaf growth!

[johnw]

Ru


Such big bulbs and tremendous growth, I had expected they grew in deep rich fertile soil not on cliffs like that.  How much soil is up there or is it mainly grit?


Given the climate of Adjara that you describe I guess I should not hold out hope for much cold hardiness in the Cyclamen I grew as C. adjaricum now known as C. coum ex Adjara.


john

[Rick Goodenough]

John, I look forward to Ru's answer on soil. Most winters here are very long and cold in SE MA, US, with a hardiness zone 6 and I have had no problems growing Cyclamen coum on their own outside in the garden. I do not know your equivalent hardiness, but they are pretty tough.

Rick

[johnw]

Rick  - We are Z6 here in Hfx. but a longer winter than you have & spring comes ever so slowly here.  I initially had problems growing coum, perhaps we are too wet, but now get volunteers.  I grew C. adjaricum (a coum) thinking it might be hardier;  as coum is to be found in Lebanon & Israel I suspect our problems with this species may be the source, likely those southern ones are very tender and perhaps we were got southern ones initially.  I think Janis said v. caucasicum was our best bet.


john

[Rick Goodenough]

Thanks John...yes, there is certainly more to suitable growing conditions than just the hardiness zone. Thanks for the tip on Cyclamen v. caucasicum, good to know in case some of mine start flagging. Mine are seed grown here from established varieties from a supplier in The Netherlands.

I hope your start to winter is not as blasted cold as what we have here today, we have been spoiled to not see much winter until late January in recent years.

Rick

[johnw]

Rick - Had the first frost 6 nights ago and today we'vere plunged head first into winter.  It's -9c right now and barely got to freezing today, I suspect those succulents outdoors are toast.  Quite right, unusual of late to see winter before the new year, I just hope there's enough moisture deep in the ground.

Back in the 60's & 70's we got a glossy bulb catalogue from New England and a mag from England called Practical Gardening, there were so many names for coum we knew not what we were growing - C. orbiculatum, C. coum, C. vernalis and a few other names that escape me entirely.  What a relief when I discovered the Cyclamen Society &* got somewhat straightened out. 

Did you know the late Tim Craig in Duxbury, she was an old pal?

john

[Rick Goodenough]

That is a severe weather change...wow. I did not your friend, Tim, but my wife actually teaches high school in Duxbury. A beautiful little seaside town.

Rick

[Rick Goodenough]

This early elwesii just keeps going. In bloom now in my garden for nearly a month, I am delighted with the performance of G. 'Peter Gatehouse'.

Rick

[Maggi Young]

Must be said, snowdrop flowers can last a very satisfyingly long time!

[johnw]

Rick  - I'm surprised you have no snow covder, I guess you missed the storm that struck here Sunday and Monday.  About 5 inches down here, a bit of rain tomorrow and then the mercury will plunge.  They say it may get colder than all of last winter.  Somewhere under this snow a reginae-olgae flowers.....


johnw

[Rick Goodenough]

John,...those poor G.r.o. and you...way to early for significant snow and these brutal temperatures to be upon us. We got a dusting a few days ago and are supposed to get nailed with the "Polar Vortex" on Thursday night with lows down to -15C and highs Friday at -10C. Bone chilling....glad I am not a plant! Stay warm, Rick

[Rick Goodenough]

Must be said, snowdrop flowers can last a very satisfyingly long time!

Maggi...Well put, they are satisfyingly in flower a long time indeed, particularly in autumn it seems. Rick

[johnw]

Rick  - I'm hoping the snow pulls  the frost out of the ground and insulates during the impending arctic outbreak tonight, though drizzling at 5c now.


john