Worsleya, paramongaia, etc...

[Michael]

Anyone growing those rarities? I had searched the internet and they seem impossible to find for sale...

[Carlo]

...not growing them now, but I do see seed for sale from time to time. Worsleya, in particular, shows up once in a while...but is quite pricey.

[Lesley Cox]

We talked about Worsleya before somewhere, can't remember exactly where, but our friend Per-Ake from Sweden (Norway) was growing it I think, or attempting to. Try the Forum index and search for Worsleya.

[Maggi Young]

see here:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=269.msg6631;topicseen#msg6631

[rob krejzl]

There's a specialist Worsleya list (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Worsleya_procera/) where seed is sometimes offered. As Carlo says it can be pricey.

[winwen]

Paramongaia: see http://www.tomorrowsplants.com/plants12.htm
Worsleya seeds are now 2 or 3 times a year offered in the mentioned yahoo-interest-group. Prices are usually around 5 US$ (sometimes up to 10 US$) per seed.

Regards
Erwin

[Michael]

Jesus! Well i hope that means they have 99,99% of viability then...

[winwen]

Well, as far as I read the germination reports of the group-members, germination rate was always very good ( >80%) -at least with certain clones (Cosh) involved. Choice of the right germination-medium seems to be most important (very very areated, like epiphyte-orchid-medium) for good germination. This is one of the most frequently discussed themes there.

[Michael]

Yes some sources say to pot it up in 100% pumice, or gravel and orchid bark. Geezzz i never thought a bulb would be so excentric regarding potting medium... Almost could live like orchids do!

[winwen]

It does so!
This is a lithophytic growing Amaryllid. Treat it as a Geophyte and you'll loose it!

Erwin

[Michael]

Thanks for the advice Erwin! Do you grow that plant?

[winwen]

No.
When I became interested in this plant, I thoght - wow, what a stunner, I must have it!
But as time went by, I became aware of several problems and the -maybe- hardest of all is lighting!

I am living in Austria (Vienna) and although not alpine, it still can get very cold here (down to -20C). Frost may occur in 7 months per year (Oct.-April). So this plant has to be kept indoors for at least 6 months per year. During these 6 months, you have to supply good light - and I mean really good, because Worsleya grows in full sun the whole year round! This means: it still needs 10000 or better 20000-30000 Lux even in the resting period. With lower light-levels you have the risk that it wont develop flowers. Worsleya really has very special needs!

Have you ever tried to supply 20000 Lux of light to a plant? I guess no-the only ones who have to deal with such problems are the weed-growers (cannabis). As such strong sources of light only high-pressure-sodium-lamps can be used, but then there is another problem: under this kind of light, the fabulous blue color of the flowers will not show, because these HPS-lamps emit strongly yellow light, which means: there's no blue which can be reflected! Moreover, since these HPS-Lights are all high power-lamps (400 Watt around) the whole thing will get very expensive (>10 hours per day for at least 6 months).

All in all: I admit, it may theoretically be possible to grow here, but the growing-efforts are too high and the possibilities to enjoy it: very low.
However: I think it is growable in the southern hemisphere + tropics + in some mild mediterranean regions.

Maybe this is the reason why it still has not spread yet over the whole world - even in commerce! It is hard to get, harder to grow and (last not least) hardest to flower and propagate.

[Michael]

Oh... ok, thanks for the explanation. I like Worsleya mostly because of its leaves and not mainly on the flowers. It has a very nice folliage (looks like a palm tree  ) But of course i would be happy if it flowered to me. Please forgive my curiousity, but i would like to ask you one more last question. How many years untill have a flowering size plant? The plants seems pretty big on the pictures...

[Hans J]

After my knowledge need this plants a minimum of 10 years from seed to flowering .....

Hello Erwin ,
I agree with you 100% - my idea before some years was exact the same : I must have it !!!
Same with Paramongaia , Pamianthe and a lot of other ......
But I have now also decidet I will it not grow - it is impossilby for me....
This plants need a lot of space and a lot of effort....
The funny is : Now it was easier to get seeds and plants as before some years ....

[winwen]

Hello,

in the interest-group, it is said that Worsleya needs 7-9 years BUT the source of this info was an australian grower, growing Worsleya for more than 12 years under nearly optimal conditions. With us -in europe- I think the truth will be nearer to the already mentioned 10 years.
This is definitively not one for the impatient cultivators!