Tecophilaea violiflora

[BULBISSIME]

Less spectacular than T. cyanocrocus, smaller flower but a nice miniature !

[dominique]

Fred, canwe tell Giant  beauty for such miniature ? Yes I think !
Dom

[Hans A.]

Fred, very nice picture!
Is this species flowering now? I am a bit surprised as here they are in flower normally in spring.

[Gerdk]

What a well grown plant

Gerd

[Anthony Darby]

Wow! That is beautifully different. Can it be grown in the UK in an alpine house?

[BULBISSIME]

Hans, Is it the same plant
Mine is still dormant and will flower begining of march.
What is very strange is the big foliage difference between the 2 plants, but mine is very young...

[Maggi Young]

Fred,  Hans' plant is more mature, as can be seen from the fact that  the flower stems are multi-headed.... yours will develop this characteristic in future years, I am sure. I was surprised to see your single flower head because I associate this plant with multiple flowers on the stem.

Now, let's see if Hans agrees with me.......

[Hans A.]

Thanks for all the kind comments
For sure I agree completly with you, Maggi
This group of Tecophilaea is now growing for some years here and when I remember well every bulb gets only two leafs - the first much larger than a smaller second one - just yesterday i found the first in the garden.  Fred you are right - it always flowers in spring here (as it does in Chile - just now I think)- my picture is an old one  - so I was a bit surprised you posted your pictures now. I have been told the wild population have a less striking colour normally and less flowers - as this species comes from the coastal plans of northern chile it is much easier to grow here than T.cyanocrocus as it prefers  much warmer conditions - hope to see them in their habitat one day.

[Paul T]

What actually is the key to flowering this species?  I've grown it for years and never flowered it, nor do I know for sure anyone in Aus that actually has.  I think Otto said he got rid of his because they never flowered for him.  So what is the key?

Out of interest, while we're discussing Tecs.... what conditions do people keep their Tecs in during their dormancy?  I'm never quite sure what I should be giving them, and how much moisture or lack thereof.  I'm checking now as I lost a few corms last dormancy and I don't want to have that happen again. 

[Anthony Darby]

What actually is the key to flowering this species? 

Trying in a different position ........................ like Dunblane, Paul.

[Jim McKenney]

Out of interest, while we're discussing Tecs.... what conditions do people keep their Tecs in during their dormancy?  I'm never quite sure what I should be giving them, and how much moisture or lack thereof.  I'm checking now as I lost a few corms last dormancy and I don't want to have that happen again. 

The plants here of Tecophilaea cyanocrocus are kept bone dry during the summer and are exposed to plenty of heat - not only because it is hot here but also because the frame in which they grow has a SW exposure. Watering is resumed late - for instance, this year they got their first water only a week ago. I've only been growing this species for four years, but so far, so good.