Do you have Fibromyalgia? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Tyerman" <ptyerman@ozemail.com.au> To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2003 8:48 AM Subject: Re: [pbs] Babiana--TOW > Howdy All, > > Sorry for being so late with a response to the Babiana TOTW.... I've been > struggling with Chronic Fatigue badly of late and it means that there can > be up to a week at a time that I am unable to use the computer. Better > late than never I suppose. > > It has been fascinating to read all the info on Babiana. I certainly > learned a few bits and pieces from it (which is going to be very handy) and > I shall be potting mine into bigger pots by the sound of it. I find that > some of mine are a bit shy to flower, so I am wondering if the shallow > planting is producing multiplying effects instead of flowering, like in > some of the Crocus species? > > I have to say that above all, I am so glad that my garden cannot read > emails. From the various TOTW and discussions I have so often seen that so > many plants are not supposed to tolerate frost at all..... when I have them > growing happily here in Canberra and getting down to at least -5'C every > year and sometimes down to -8 or -p'C. Babianas are no exception and are > doing fine here whether received as bulbs of as seeds. The only one I have > grown to flowering from seed is B. pulchra, but there are a couple that are > getting large enough that there may be signs of flowers this season or > definitely next season. These have all been grown in small pots and done > fine, but I can see that some of them have been sitting at the bottom of > the pots at the end of the season as they obviously weren't happy in such > shallow pots..... but it certainly hasn't killed them, so if you only have > space for small pots then at least try them as they're likely to at least > grow even if they aren't successful in flowering. > > I grow about a dozen or so species now I think, including seedlings, and I > obviously don't give them the TLC that they are "supposed" to require > (Being sick so much in the last few years means that I cannot necessarily > repot when required or look after them as well as I should) but they keep > on growing. When happy many of the species multiply VERY well and can > crowd their pots (small pots in my case as I have said..... I just realised > that I had better clarify that as 5 or 6 inch pots that may be normal or > 'squat' heights, so there isn't a great deal of space for them). > > I really have to say that I have found them easy and trouble free for me > here. As I said above, they get down to -5 to -8'C each year, and we get > to the high 30s - low 40'C sometimes for quite long periods of time. Most > of my pots get watering year around as I have real trouble letting a pot > dry out in summer (it is just a thing that I can't do.... I feel sorry for > them <Grin>) but I am gradually training myself to have an area where pots > are watered less frequently where they require it. This year I am actually > going to try a "dry" area for summer as well, where the pots are seldom if > ever going to get watered....... but I am not sure I'll be able to do it as > I'll just itch to give the little dears some water. Certainly I have never > found any problems with Babianas being watered here in summer, nor do they > mind being knocked out of pots and dried over summer in the garage. I find > them a real no-trouble plant. > > When I finally get Babiana ringens to flower for me (I have 2 and 3 year > old seedlings at the moment that are growing along happily for me at the > moment) then you'll probably all hear the cheer from wherever you are > <grin>. That little one is at first glance VERY little like a Babiana > flower and almost resembles to me a Strelitzia flower in some ways. > > Babiana pygmae on the other hand is a beautiful, upward facing, open, pale > yellow saucer flower with a dark centre. The flower is as wide as the > plant is tall (or at least that was the case when mine flowered this year). > Very striking in the garden and commented on by everyone who saw it > > Anyway, I'd best stop chattering on about them. I'd definitely recommend > Babianas as I have found them easy to grow and rewarding when in flower. > Some of the petal colours and shades, as well as lip markings etc, are just > wonderful and a realy treat when in flower. > > If this message prompts any questions that I need to answer, please bear > with me if there is a delay. I am at times unable to use the computer for > days due to illness, but I will respond when i next get onto the Internet > and download my email. > > Hopefully this was of some use to someone, and maybe even prompts someone > to try this genus who hasn't already. They are definitely WELL worth the > effort (what little effort that is, or course). > > Cheers. > > Paul Tyerman > Canberra, Australia. USDA equivalent - Zone 8/9 > mailto:ptyerman@ozemail.com.au > > Growing.... Galanthus, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Cyclamen, Crocus, > Cyrtanthus, Liliums, Hellebores, Aroids, Irises plus just about anything > else that doesn't move!!!!! > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php