Rhodophiala araucana
Jamie (Mon, 14 Apr 2003 11:39:10 PDT)
I know that the Dutch growers of Hippeastrum, which is closely related, grow
their bulbs to flowering size using 24 light hour days! (I do not know if
this is practiced all the way to flowering size, or just to get them going
quickly) The bulbs are kept in continuous growth and not rested until
blooming size. The entire process is not known to me, but they are geared
to market production, which may not favour the plant in the long run. I
know that most of my new Hippeastrum need a year to recover from their first
bloom. I often purchase them as pot plants to fill a spot.
Just a thought...
Jamie V.
Cologne
----- Original Message -----
From: "Den Wilson" <valden@vectis52.freeserve.co.uk>
To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2003 7:58 PM
Subject: Re: [pbs] Rhodophiala araucana
Paul and Kelly,
If the seed came from me the parent plant is the peach variant posted to
the
wiki page
http://http/www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/… .
The seedlings grew continuously for two years without a dormant period and
subsequently flowered for a long period in summer, producing a rainbow of
colour forms. They became dormant for the first time the following autumn
(fall). Growth begins again in April. Alberto has said that Rhodophiala
generally take 5-6 years to flower from seed and I think this is normally
true but I believe this species has been shown to be a natural polyploid
which might explain its unusual haste. Growing it continuously without a
dormant phase may also be a factor. It appears to enjoy a warm/moist
summer
and a frost-free dry(ish) winter. Some colour forms are stunning. All are
good.
Cheers.
Den Wilson
Isle of Wight
UK.
Zone 8 (maritime) almost frost-free.
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