November 2010 in the Southern Hemisphere

[johnw]

I lost mine too I'm afraid Bill, also to frost or perhaps a combo of frost and too wet at the roots. Maybe some time if you have some spare seed.....?

Lesley

Misery particularly loves distinguished company.

johnw

[cohan]

cool stuff, as always! the wachendorfia looks like an amazing plant for the landscape!

[Lesley Cox]

I lost mine too I'm afraid Bill, also to frost or perhaps a combo of frost and too wet at the roots. Maybe some time if you have some spare seed.....?

Lesley

Misery particularly loves distinguished company.

johnw

well that's certainly us John.

[Otto Fauser]

Lesley , Wachendorfia is a declared noxious weed here in Victoria -we had to remove it from the garden of the the Ferny Creek Horticultural Soc. I always thought it looked rather untidy .

[Tecophilaea King]

Lesley , Wachendorfia is a declared noxious weed here in Victoria -we had to remove it from the garden of the the Ferny Creek Horticultural Soc. I always thought it looked rather untidy .

Otto, does that mean that Wachendorfia thyrsiflora (seed) is a prohibitive genus/species on your AQIS biosecurity list for importing conditions/requirements?
I can appreciate that some genera of plants in certain countries have the potantial to become a pest or hazard, depending on climatic conditions, etc.
As a point of interest, where do I go to find out what is allowed and what is prohibited in Australia? Thanks

[Lesley Cox]

Truly, one man's meat is another man's poison Otto. Have a look at the new thread on Phacelia.

[rob krejzl]

As a point of interest, where do I go to find out what is allowed and what is prohibited in Australia?

http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_querycontent.asp
New link : http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/icon-icd?wasRedirectedByModule=true

A search will show that Wachendorfia thyrsiflora is permitted nationally.

[Tecophilaea King]

Bill - I have never been able to get a Wachendorfia thyrsifolia through the first winter and that is in a frost-free greenhouse.  Can you offer some help?  I have tried winter-dry and winter-moist for seedlings but they all turn to slop by January.  They grow so rapidly they are in a one gallon & pot bound by autumn.  Still we get a couple of months to admire those bright red roots before they follow suit.  johnw

John, I can't offer any fool proof, concrete cultural advise on growing Wachendorfia tryrsifolia successfully, depending on so many other aspects like climate, soil, location, frost, poor drainage, wet feet, etc..
Have you ever tried growing/shifting the pot bound Wachendorfia outside in a sheltered, sunny, wel-drained, slightly raised spot/location, and covering with straw or any other material in the winter for protection from the frost wet and cold?
Don't forget, there is nothing more disastrous than prolonged cold and wet conditions at the roots during winter, a recipe for failure.

[Tecophilaea King]

As a point of interest, where do I go to find out what is allowed and what is prohibited in Australia?

http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_querycontent.asp  New link :
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/icon-icd?wasRedirectedByModule=true

A search will show that Wachendorfia thyrsiflora is permitted nationally.

Rob, thanks for the AQIS home page website, always handy for a quick search.

[johnw]

I lost mine too I'm afraid Bill, also to frost or perhaps a combo of frost and too wet at the roots. Maybe some time if you have some spare seed.....?

Lesley

Misery particularly loves distinguished company.

johnw

well that's certainly us John.

No that's you.

johnw

[daveyp1970]

Albuca clanwilliamgloria .... isn't that the one that gets 2 metres and more tall?  Where do you keep it?

Maggie in my early ignorance of African bulbs i bought seed of this plant,they are in my 8x6 greenhouse but only 3 year olds at the moment so not that large,only knows what i will do when gets that big could be a laugh though so watch this space(an excuse for a bigger greenhouse),does anybody fancy a bulb when they go dormant lol.
Bill i didn't realise A.canadensis had a yellow form it is lovely as far as i know my young plants were from white seed.

[johnw]

John, I can't offer any fool proof, concrete cultural advise on growing Wachendorfia tryrsifolia successfully, depending on so many other aspects like climate, soil, location, frost, poor drainage, wet feet, etc..
Have you ever tried growing/shifting the pot bound Wachendorfia outside in a sheltered, sunny, wel-drained, slightly raised spot/location, and covering with straw or any other material in the winter for protection from the frost wet and cold?
Don't forget, there is nothing more disastrous than prolonged cold and wet conditions at the roots during winter, a recipe for failure.

Bill - "prolonged cold, frost and wet conditions at the roots during winter" describes us perfectly.  Have never exposed the seedlings to our winter, they have always been in a greenhouse. Perhaps I will try again and run them very dry when dormant.  It  was intended as a tub plant, out in May, back in November.

johnw

[Ezeiza]

Bill, and people. Something is misidentified here as thyrsiflora is the evergreen marsh species in the genus. It is a super plant with broad pleated erect foliage like a giant Tigridia pavonia or a palm. I remember seeing clumps of it at Western Hills Nursery near Sacramento where it is chilly in winter. It was planted with the roots at stream level and it was truly magnificent.

The other three species demand the drained mild conditions mentioned and all three are hot dry summer dormant.

[Tecophilaea King]

The very diverse genus Calochortus with their graceful stance , brilliant colors,  and intricate markings, the fairy lantern with their bell or globe shaped flowers are among the most dazzling bulbous plants in the garden.
The Calochortus luteus and Calochortus venustus are just two species flowering for us at the moment.

[Lesley Cox]

Well that settles one thing for me. My seedlings of C. luteus which look like C amabilis, and, I thought, must be closely related, must BE C. amabilis . That's OK. It is my favourite and I could never have too many.