Tropaeolum azureum and T. tricolor

Åke Nordström Ake.Nordstrom@slu.se
Sun, 12 Jul 2015 23:20:54 PDT
Thanks a lot for the information!!

Yes I keep them in pots. I kept the seeds just above freezing temperature before germinating and that seemed to work well. It sounds good that I don't have to bake the tubers, but do they, in similarity with the seeds, have to go down in really low temperature before I start to water.

Thanks again from Åke

-----Original Message-----
From: pbs [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jane McGary
Sent: den 12 juli 2015 21:01
To: Pacific Bulb Society
Subject: Re: [pbs] Tropaeolum azureum and T. tricolor

     I assume that Ake is growing these tropaeolums in pots. If they are seedlings it is not unusual for them to enter dormancy so quickly, but larger plants can be expected to remain in green growth for about 5 or 6 months. They are both Mediterranean cycle species and make their growth during winter, flowering in mid spring and going dormant one or two months after flowering, after the seeds have fallen. If these plants are being grown in a frost-free house, they should be kept almost dry during summer. They do not need to "bake" as one sometimes sees written. Begin watering in October or November and provide supports for them to climb on. Both can make very long stems (up to 2 meters for T. tricolor, and I have seen T. azureum even taller in the wild). If they might be exposed to frost, use wooden or bamboo supports, not metal. T. tricolor is hardier than T. azureum, but both can tolerate a little frost, especially the T. tricolor from the Andean foothills (there are also coastal populations).

A peculiar thing about tropaeolums is that they sometimes remain dormant through an entire year and then regrow the following year. I don't know why. If the top growth freezes, it is possible that the tuber is still viable, even if damaged, so don't throw it out without checking. Both of the species mentioned make a single tuber -- they do not spread out with stolons as T. polyphyllum does.

Jane McGary
Portland, Oregon, USA


On 7/12/2015 3:24 AM, Åke Nordström wrote:
> Hi all!!
>
> I hope someone with experience of Tropaeolum can help me.
>
> I have a few plants of T. azureum. They have been growing for about two months and the leaves have now turned yellow and dried out. What conditions are optimal during dormancy, (soil moisture, temperature cycle etc) I have also one T. tricolor, is it the same treatment for that species?
>
> Thank you very much, Åke Nordstrom, in northern Sweden where we (so far) have a cold and wet summer....
>
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