Sternbergia 2010

[art600]

Arthur
Remind me later in the year I will let you have some.

Thanks Pat

[Hans A.]

Congratulations Gerry, it is really a great group!
Missed the flower of this species this year somehow- I wonder if this species is stricly selfsteril or not, last year I got no seeds of the different handpollinated flowers of the same clone, but seeds of Sternbergia colchiciflora which flowered below the soil surface produced a full pod.

[Gerry Webster]

Thanks Hans. I have never had seed on S. candida but I have never tried pollinating the plants. They increase quite well vegetatively.

[Hans A.]

Thanks Gerry - mine also increase well, but I belong to those who are really happy when they can grow a species from seed (even if it means there are pots nearly everywhere - to my wifes chagrin )

[fermi de Sousa]

Thanks Gerry - mine also increase well, but I belong to those who are really happy when they can grow a species from seed (even if it means there are pots nearly everywhere - to my wifes chagrin )

I know what you mean!
The only Sternbergia candida which I have was grown from seed by my (generous) friend Otto Fauser and it did produce a seed pod the first time it flowered without another clone in sight!
cheers
fermi

[Pauli]

Hello,

Here is the way I cultivate Sternbergia candida.
I think, the plant is very cold-hardy!
See the pictures of my small Bulbframe in the snow from yesterday. Now it is the first time with warm weather after at least 6 week of frost and snow. I keep it always ventilated and suggest, that the minimum temperatures this season were around -15C. Of course it is warm inside when the sun comes out.
About mid or end of March I open all windows and close them again around end of May. No water between June and March from above, but some from the sides, which are also isolated but not too well.
 I feed them heavily while in growth.
It is not particularly free-flowering, but I have quite a few flowers each year.

All the best from Linz

[Gerry Webster]

Sternbergia candida

Further to my post on Feb 17th, here is a new (& better) photo taken today. The flowers have now expanded to their full size.

[Hristo]

Super plants Gerry,is this natural increase? How many years have you been growing this species?

[Gerry Webster]

Super plants Gerry,is this natural increase? How many years have you been growing this species?

Chris - natural, vegetative increase. They all come from one bulb obtained 15 years ago. I love them.

[Hristo]

Brilliant, you've got to love it when you get so much 'free' material as a reward for 15 years care!

[Ezeiza]

Herbert, how deep are the S. candida bulbs?

[Pauli]

Alberto,

not too deep, about 3 - 5 cm.
I started to plant them deeper, but as all Sternbergias (at least for me) they did not like it!

[Gerry Webster]

Herbert, how deep are the S. candida bulbs?

Alberto,
not too deep, about 3 - 5 cm.
I started to plant them deeper, but as all Sternbergias (at least for me) they did not like it!

My experience too. I presume that the relatively shallow planting facilitates summer ripening.

[Ezeiza]

Thanks Pauli and Gerry:

                                My question was because those I have received from the wild for our collection were amazingly deep in the soil. I was wondering if the offsetting in those plants you showed had to do with it.

                                 I have always wondered if the shy flowering reputation of S. candida had to do with shallow planting.

Best

[BULBISSIME]

same for me.. 
They grow well, and increase, but still no flowers.
I'll start to add some potassium...