Tecophilaea Cyanocrocus

Diana Chapman rarebulbs@suddenlink.net
Sat, 03 Sep 2011 09:16:35 PDT
I really have to weigh in here.  I have been growing Tecophilaea for 
many years, and they usually produce one or two tiny offsets per mature 
bulb which will take several years to mature.  They also do not produce 
'copious' seed.  In my greenhouses, I have to hand pollinate and get 
very little seed set.  I have tried various growing media and growing 
conditions in the hope of being able to produce more bulbs, but nothing 
has made any significant difference..  My seed germinates at about 50%.

There is a reason they have been expensive.  They reproduce slowly, they 
are very rare, and, most importantly, there is only a tiny market for 
these bulbs.  If the Dutch are growing them in quantity now, I actually 
doubt that this will last, since the market just isn't there.  I have 
seen other desirable bulbs come and go from Dutch suppliers, so I would 
jump on it now and buy some.  To produce a bulb for $5 or less you have 
to sell a lot, or it isn't worth the effort.  This might be a very short 
term offer.

Diana
Telos Rare Bulbs




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