Oncoseason 2010

[Regelian]

Peter,

nice to see how you deal with your Oncos/Regelias.  In general you are always cutting soil with at least 50% gravel, of mixed grades, but no fine sand, if I am seeing this correctly.  This is what I did in my beds in the early Spring.  Hoping to start another one next month.  The bed is now showing a lot of new growth, after the heavy rains.  I just hope it proved dry enough in the Summer for some of the more delicate plants.

As to dolomite powder, try a potter's supply, as in ceramics.  I used to teach ceramics and often used powdered dolomite in glazes (still do).  I get it here, from the local ceramics region (Westerwald), as well a chalk, lava and a few other goodies.  Very cheap in the 20-25 kilo sack.  Also, something I've not tried but consdiered, is using schamotte from them.  This is burned clay used to give softer clays more grip and texture.  It is less porous than the typical clay pellets used for hydroponics and may have better drainage qualities.

[arillady]

Try again to post this message.
In order of appearance: an aril patch budding up
top view of a 2001 cross
a mariae hybrid cross
 

[TheOnionMan]

Wow, an aril patch!   I'm envious.

[PeterT]

your turn to show us how to do it Pat 

[arillady]

I am still learning - started growing them in 1989 from seed. Some arils do well but others from higher elevations do not do so well. This year we have had a bit too much cold and drizzling rain but at least most of winter was fairly dry - for once. The tips of the leaves always end up brown but at least they flower and mainly keep going from year to year. Touch wood. Our hot dry summers help too. I do not fertilize much so I never get such root growth as Peter has shown. Much more modest root growth. I have tried them in pots with not much success so I thank my lucky stars that I live in a good climate that seems to suit them.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

We're patient people Pat ! 

[PeterT]

i started to grow them nine years ago, If you look the fertilizer is not high in nitrogen. I used not to repot much, I got a slow steady increace and very rarely a fan strong enough to flower. From what I read, if they are well fed there is a lot of bloom then the plant collapses.
Growing in pots where the roots are restricted, I try to build up a big root system in a very open compost where there is plenty of nutrient- (which soon washes out of such a mix), and then the moisture levels can be reduced very quickly, hopefully pre empting  any problems before the plant gets too lush

[Hans A.]

Pat, wonderful patches and plants  - I see I need a larger garden

Peter - great pictures - never digged so deep to lift any Onco.

[arillady]

The aril patch that I photographed the other day has advanced. Actually they are aril species hybrids - not straight species which I would love to have a patch this big but I am grateful for anything that will grow here.

[Hans A.]

Pat, I hope you will post another picture in one or two weeks - sight has to be breathtaking!

Here some seedlings,
an Iris kirkwoodii germinated in autumn 2009 which stayed green in summer and did not stop growing.

Iris camillae is one of my key species - now rare in cultivation and as I know only in very few clones - so every new seedling is more than welcome - on the left side one which germinated in 2009 and on the right side the first Oncoseedling for 2010 for me.

[BULBISSIME]

Great Hans,
Onco seedlings are allways welcome isn't it ?

[PeterT]

congratulations Hans on the I camillae seedlings  , I hope they grow well and flower together 

[Hans A.]

Thanks Fred, every single seedling is a joy; there are still many pots with no germination so far, adding those where last years germinated the first seedlings, i am sure I will enjoy this autumn very much.  

Thanks Peter, I hope so - next year four clones should flower - two of them will do it for the first time, I am very curious about their colouration.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very exciting prospect Hans and many congrats with the new babies 

[arillady]

This aril species hybrid has lost its tag. Taken late afternoon. So many will be opening in the next few days - I will pray for less rain so that I might do some pollinating.