South African Bulbs2012

[fermi de Sousa]

Some more geissorhiza are in bloom:
G. radians
G. monathos
G. aspera
and another look at G. tulbaghensis
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

If you need an Ixia Fix, now's the time!
These are a mix of species so some hybrids are appearing,
cheers
fermi

[David Nicholson]

Looking very colouful Fermi, love your Ixias.

[Menai]

A number of my Massonia pustulata, grown from seed, have produced buds this year but development seems to have stalled in the last fortnight. Do they need increased heat or additional light? They are growing in an unheated greenhouse here in Anglesey. If they need light should it be given to lengthen the day or merely to increase the intensity during regular daylight hours? Any help welcome.

Erle

[Darren]

Erle - they don't need any extra heat or light so don't waste your money.
I'm further north than you and grow mine in similar conditions without extra light (or heating except on really frosty nights). My pustulata have been VERY late coming into growth this year, as have depressa and some pygmaea. It may be possible that the flowers could abort if the plants have been allowed to dry out too much but I've never seen it happen in Massonia. My advice is to wait a couple of weeks and keep your fingers crossed. My own plants are nowhere near flowering yet even though the buds are visible.

Massonia buds are always visible as soon as the plant starts to grow but they often take many weeks to develop further so don't worry

[Menai]

Thank you Darren. I shall be patient!

Erle

[angie]

Erle - they don't need any extra heat or light so don't waste your money.
I'm further north than you and grow mine in similar conditions without extra light (or heating except on really frosty nights). My pustulata have been VERY late coming into growth this year, as have depressa and some pygmaea. It may be possible that the flowers could abort if the plants have been allowed to dry out too much but I've never seen it happen in Massonia. My advice is to wait a couple of weeks and keep your fingers crossed. My own plants are nowhere near flowering yet even though the buds are visible.

Massonia buds are always visible as soon as the plant starts to grow but they often take many weeks to develop further so don't worry

Darren I am glad to hear that your Massonia are late with you. I was starting to get very worried as I only had a few starting to grow. Hope they will all grow as I would be really disappointed if I had killed them.

Angie 

[Darren]

Darren I am glad to hear that your Massonia are late with you. I was starting to get very worried as I only had a few starting to grow. Hope they will all grow as I would be really disappointed if I had killed them.

Angie 

I'm starting to worry about M. depressa as there is no sign of this yet! Pygmaea has (thankfully) started to move now. Hard to believe I had this in flower at Ponteland last year - it is at least 3 weeks later this season.

I've lots of exciting Massonia seeds germinating though including purple leaved and pink flowered forms of pustulata. Heaven knows where I'm going to house them all (the seed packets were very generous) but I'll worry about that later. 

[angie]

I've lots of exciting Massonia seeds germinating though including purple leaved and pink flowered forms of pustulata. Heaven knows where I'm going to house them all (the seed packets were very generous) but I'll worry about that later. 

Nice problem to have    Hope they all grow and multiply.

Angie 

[fermi de Sousa]

Very disappointed to have missed the first flowering on this tiny Moraea serpentina!
However the taller Babiana spathacea is also coming into bloom
And in another bed Merwilla plumbea is now flowering
cheers
fermi

[David Nicholson]

About a fortnight later than last year- Polyxena longituba grown from seed (SRGC Exchange 07/08-2424) sown 18/12/08

[Lesley Cox]

Can anyone name this Babiana for me please?

[ArnoldT]

Gethyllis linearis

[fleurbleue]

Nice coloured Babania  Lesley !   

[Lesley Cox]

Yes it is thanks Nicole. But I think Paul may be right and thre are hybrids involved because although it's a clump of just 3 or 4 bulbs, each stem is a slightly different shade. One is magenta, one pure crimson, one what I would call cerise, slightly redder than magenta and one with a very blue base going into magenta.