South African bulbose plants 2009

[Darren]

Deal - see if you like it first - here is a pic. It flowers in march/april usually.

[David Nicholson]

Yes, it's nice, it's different.

[johnw]

Darren - Is this Lachenalia as easy to grow as Quadricolor? 

I have to ask if anyone with collections of Lachenalia has grown open-pollinated seed.   Seems there is good potential to get a wide range of flower shades.

johnw   -  5 cm. of snow last night.  Cold here at -7c, hard to believe that is considered a very cold night in the UK.

[Darren]

Can't answer John - haven't grown quadricolor. I did once have var aurea and that was much more vigorous than vanzyliae but both are equally easy. Var aurea started showing virus symptoms so it went. I might one day replace it from seed. I only sow my own seed from the less vigorous autumnal species, and so far have had no hybrids. A pusilla/rubida cross seems unlikely but could be very interesting given how different they are!

[Paul T]

Darren,

I don't think I've come across that species before.  Looks bluer and a different shape to viridiflora which I grew at one point.  Aren't those blue-green/aqua colours just so unusual. 

[Darren]

Yes Paul - it is an almost unnaturally luminous shade and people often think the plant is not real and made of plastic!

[Paul T]

Thanks Darren.  I'll have to look out for it.  I love stuff that colour...... I wish I could grow Jade Vine here. 

[Darren]

I know this plant has appeared before, and not only from me, but I happened to notice whilst brushing snow from the greenhouse that Gladiolus maculatus is in flower, as it always is at Christmas. These are pictures of 3 clones from seed, taken last year. I do cross them every year and get big ripe seed capsules but none of the seed is ever viable. These cape gladdys usually have a rounded seed within a flattened papery exterior but there is never any sign of a seed within the chaff. Surely enough nothing germinates. If I were to theorise I would suggest it is something to do with our low temperatures at time of fertilisation - something triggers capsule development without actually forming seed. Maybe I should bring it indoors for a week or two?

Lovely plant anyway, with a terrific scent on days when it and my nose are not frozen:

[pel1]

Lovely pics Darren, I have just germinated a few species Glads myself, any advice on how to grow them on?
Best wishes, James.

[daveyp1970]

stunning gladi darren does it produce little baby corms though, i have grown all my gladi's from seed i have about 20 different sp at the moment i was wondering how long it takes you to get them to flowering from sowing.

[Darren]

I'm not that good with the Gladiolus, James , so reluctant to advise. I've been lucky enough to be acquainted with one of the great show gladiolus growers and his advice for raising was to plant the seed deep (like a certain Mr Young would advise!) so that it gets fairly even temperatures and moisture until germination. This was good advice. After that we diverge - Ideally he says they should have a free root run and he grows his in a greenhouse bed in ring culture pots. This is probably best but the soil in my greenhouse area is under 10cm of concrete, plus ring culture uses a lot of space, so I use ordinary pots . I treat them the same as my other cape bulbs and try to repot every year as glads are heavier feeders than most. Seedlings might bulk up quicker with heavy feeding. Other than that nothing special. Sometimes a potful will 'crash' and suddenly I've only got a very few tiny corms left which are very weak. I wonder about virus perhaps? Or possibly some shock during the growing season such as allowing the pot to get too dry (ring culture would have prevented this)? Ideas would be welcome!

Davey - it varies. Some vigorous ones  (e.g caeruleus) take about 3-4 years but some little ones like virescens and meliusculus I am still awaiting flowers after 8 years... perhaps they just don't like the conditions I can offer? The related G uysiae (from Jim Archibald seed) is in year two and has already overtaken my meliusculus in size! The commonest of this group in the wild is G alatus but I cannot keep it alive at all.
 I do get tiny little offset corms on the maculatus yes, for which I am thankful! I'd really like to get some seed though as a safeguard against virus etc.  
What about you? Do you have any tips about them?

James - I note you grow pelargonium too - I once had a great interest in the tuberous species and had quite a few. Nowadays I just keep a small number and my favourite by far is P oblongatum. Which types do you grow?

[Hristo]

Not as sexy as the G.maculatus ( very nice indeed Darren )
On my kitchen windowsill and awaiting an asignation ( or two ) with various
F.laxa hybrids;
Freesia viridis, originally from Moncot Nursery.

[pel1]

Thanks for the Gladiolus advice Darren, I sowed my seed on the surface of the soil and they seem to germinate well that way too, fingers crossed I can keep them going!
I am interested in any species Pelargoniums, but particularly of course the tuberous kinds, I think oblongatum must be one of my favourite plants of all-a real show stopper! I have been raising quite a few cape bulbs and pelargoniums from seed this year-let me know if you want to do an exchange later in the year?
regards, James.

[daveyp1970]

after going over my gladi seed i noticed my G.marlothii has finally germinated after 2 years i am over the moon.

[David Nicholson]

Well done Dave.