Albuca spiralis

Mike Rummerfield mikerumm@gmail.com
Wed, 27 Dec 2017 21:33:35 PST
Robin,
For what it's worth - like Lin, I grow Albuca shawii and have been for
years.  I grow it in pots in a lean mixture but with heavy fertilization
(organic) during its active growth in Spring and Summer.  I grow it in full
sun or it becomes too etiolated.  As it starts to go dormant I cease
watering.  When fully dormant during Winter it goes into the minimally
heated greenhouse (where it does get below 32℉ at times) and gets no water,
zilch, all winter.  The bulbs tend to grow very near the surface.  As tiny
green nibs begin to show, I start watering again.  I've found I can prolong
the bloom season by delaying the start of watering in successive pots.  The
last pots to receive water in the Spring tend to be the most compact in
growth, blooming equally as well as those receiving water earlier, but at a
later date.  I tend to get repeat blooming in the most heavily fertilized
pots.  It increases easily for me by offsets and seed.  It has been a
trouble-free, rewarding bulb for me.

I'm also growing Albuca spiralis from seed, at least that's what I bought
it as.  It is only in its second year in a lean, well drained medium.
It has not gone fully dormant for me, always green, but I would say it went
into a strong "regeneration" this Autumn.  New growth vigorously emerged
and grew before the older leaves withered.  It does its 'spiralis' thing
only on the ends of the new growth, then straightens out for the remainder
of its growth.  Its growth tends to be lanky for me, not like the photos on
the PBS website, perhaps
due to my latitude of 46.6 and growing in aforementioned greenhouse over
Winter.  I do keep it watered year round (I don't know any better) but try
to keep it on the drier side.  I have fertilized minimally so far.  No rot
yet.  No bloom yet.  Think I have two more years for that to happen.  Sorry
I can't extend any more than this minimal experience with this bulb.

Good luck,
Mike
z7, W. Washington, USA

On Wed, Dec 27, 2017 at 8:26 PM, Hansen Nursery <robin@hansennursery.com>
wrote:

> So, if it's not in active growth, and it's in a pot, you don't water at
> all?
> Is it in sun or shade?
>
> Robin
> Hansen Nursery
> robin@hansennursery.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pbs [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net] On Behalf Of
> linny@cruzio.com
> Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2017 7:40 PM
> To: Pacific Bulb Society
> Subject: Re: [pbs] Albuca spiralis
>
>
>
>
> I'm not sure if cultural requirements are similar, but I have Albuca shawii
> in a small pot outdoors (zone 9 CA central coast).  It gets sporadic water
> most of the time, is in leaf about 9 months of the year and blooms in
> July.
> I don't water when not in active growth. It's increased in volume very
> slowly, but blooming has always been good. The flowers do have a lovely
> fragrance and are sweet looking, too. I love this plant.
>
> Lin Eucalyptus, near Santa Cruz, CA
>
>
>
> > I was given an Albuca spiralis 'Fizzle Sizzle' months ago and
> thought I
>
> > was
>
> > doing the right thing..  I kept it on the dry side (but not totally
> dry)
>
> > in
>
> > my propagation house which gets mostly full sun.  It produce a
> flower
>
> > stalk
>
> > which didn't progress but slowly so I brought it into a west-facing
> window
>
> > in a house that varies from 60-70 degrees.  I watched it and much
> more
>
> > quickly it appeared that the flowers would be opening within a few
> days
>
> > but
>
> > all the leaves died and the flower stalk was leaning. I touched the
> stalk
>
> > and it was not firm, felt loose and I observed mold so I tugged
> gently and
>
> > it came away in my hand and was clearly rotting, so I cut off the bad
> part
>
> > and stuck it in a glass of water.  Then discovered the bulb had
> completed
>
> > rotted.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > I can't find any but the most general cultural information which
> doesn't
>
> > help me.  Does anyone grow this and if they do, may I please have
> some
>
> > advice on keeping them alive?  I was so looking forward to flowers
> because
>
> > it's reputed to have a wonderful scent!!!!
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Robin Hansen
>
> >
>
> > Hansen Nursery
>
> >
>
> > robin@hansennursery.com
>
> >
>
> > Southwest coast of Oregon where it's finally raining!
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > ---
>
> > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus
> software.
>
> > https://www.avast.com/antivirus/
>
> > _______________________________________________
>
> > pbs mailing list
>
> > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net
>
> > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…
>
> >
> _______________________________________________
> pbs mailing list
> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net
> http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…
>
>
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> https://www.avast.com/antivirus/
>
> _______________________________________________
> pbs mailing list
> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net
> http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…
>
_______________________________________________
pbs mailing list
pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net
http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…


More information about the pbs mailing list