Hippeastrum Cybister Potting Mix

Dell Sherk dells@voicenet.com
Sat, 28 May 2005 12:35:13 PDT
I have been growing my cybister seedlings very much on the dry side in a
very gritty mix with silty soil. They are dormant for three quarters of the
year, and, after three or more years, are still very small. After this
discussion, I think I will repot them into another sharply draining medium,
keep them active for longer, and feed them more. At present, they grow in a
communal long-tom pot. Did I miss anything?
I am also wondering about growing H. calyptratum, which is said to be
epiphytic like H. cybister isn't, I guess.

Dell

-----Original Message-----
From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org]
On Behalf Of Alberto Castillo
Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2005 10:28 AM
To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: RE: [pbs] Hippeastrum Cybister Potting Mix



>From: David Sneddon <mrgoldbear@yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
>To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
>Subject: [pbs] Hippeastrum Cybister Potting Mix
>Date: Fri, 27 May 2005 19:59:56 -0700 (PDT)
>
>Howdy,
>
>I'm thinking of repotting cybisters and want to use a better mix than what 
>I have now which is sharp but better suited to forest growing hippeastrums.

>I was thinking of introducing some chicken grit. I'd appreciate comments 
>about what works for other people for this species and any comments as to 
>using chicken grit for hippeastrums.
>
>What do these plants grow in, in their native habitat, did I see or read 
>that it is a heavy type of sand, in mountain and with very little rainfall?
>
>Regards,
>David


Hi David:
            Cybister, argentinum, parodii and ambiguum are peculiar in that 
they always grow in full sun in the open. The region is droughtland with 
very little air humidity. The soil can be  a mellow organic  plus coarse 
sand "mix" or either different sizes of sands. In the wild they receive 
water from December to March at most in our Hemisphere (south) meaning that 
they spend part of spring under dry conditions. Dormancy is long ans in part

of autumn, all winter and part of spring. Bulbs are found really deep in the

ground and they must be allowed to develop the long neck they have in 
Nature. As for the mix it MUST contain crushed rock and different grit sizes

to obtain the best of drainages. With such a long bulb it is easy that it 
rests on stagnant soil in a common pot with great risk of rot.
Regards
Alberto

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