Haemanthus 2011

[daveyp1970]

I am getting excited, cant wait to see the flower open, also my H.Albiflos has given me more flowers  .

H. Clarkei monocot
H. Albiflos

Angie

Angie WOW you certainly have the touch,they are lovely.

[jshields]

Follow-up on my Haemanthus coccineus ex Richtersveld.  It has produced a second s cape, this one entirely normal for the species.

Jim

[angie]

Oh can't wait to get home tomorrow to see if my flower has opened. Having a great time at the discussion weekend .

Angie

[angie]

Flowering today
Haemanthus Clarkei monocot.

Angie

[jshields]

This is very nice. Are the colors burgundy?

Jim

[PeterT]

strong looking  bulb Angie, congratulations

[Brian Ellis]

Well done Angie, they obviously like you as much as you like them

[Surreylad]

very nice Angie, one of my favourite bulbs these are...

[angie]

Thanks everyone. I really am pleased to see the flower.
Jim it's not as dark as burgundy. l have seen very pale flowers on some but this is a nice colour. But saying this I would be happy with any colour of flower. Just to get it to flower as far north as I am it good enough for me.
I still really like the flowers of my H. Albiflos, off course they are white, my favourite. My niece said it would make a nice powder brush 

Angie

[jshields]

Angie, you have a very nice flower there.  I have one Haemanthus x-clarkei that blooms about once every 10 years, and then has a small, washed-out bloom that might best be called "off white."

Do you grow it with supplemental lighting in winter?

Jim

[angie]

Jim I did look into lighting and did get a light from a member that had given up his greenhouse. I haven't used it as yet I wanted to see how my plants grew in the winter. This year we have had so many grey days in summer that it's a wonder that anything has grown and when we change the clocks it's dark at 4.30pm, poor plants.
Never mind I suppose there is a good side. I never have to worry about my plants getting scorched
I like growing these plants as it's always nice to go to my greenhouse in a horrible dark cold day and there is something nice to look at. A lot of these plants were given by forum friends and they all mean so much to me. My plants are like friends, precious   

Angie

[PeterT]

I thought, being on the east, Aberdeen had fairly good light Angie? apart forom the long nights in winter of course!

[Maggi Young]

You make an interesting point, Peter..... in another life, I have curated art exhibitions and written about the pure light of the north east for its effect on artists and their work, but I'm afraid that while the quality of light here is delightful, it is not particularly strong from the point of view of growing plants, especially under cover, be it glass or a polytunnel. 

We struggle constantly with our bulbs under glass becoming etiolated. 

[angie]

I thought, being on the east, Aberdeen had fairly good light Angie? apart forom the long nights in winter of course!

 
Sunlight in Aberdeen. Being on the coast we get the harr, mist, drizzle and wind no make the last one gales. It's tuff having a garden in Aberdeen but isn't it the challenge that keeps us gardeners going  

Angie

[jshields]

Here are some more Haemanthus while they last.  First, a group of Haemanthus coccineus ex Gifberg.  These differ from other coccineus in having leaves that are somewhat narrower and longer than other coccineus.  Next, a single coccineus ex Bainskloof.  The Bainskloof plants seem to be pretty typical coccineus.  Third, a series of three individuals of my cross Haemanthus [humilis hirsutus x coccineus], all of which I call 'Burgundy' since they all have the burgundy or maroon bracts.

Jim