Bulbs for the Holidays--TOW
J.E. Shields (Wed, 24 Dec 2003 09:58:15 PST)

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Bloom is sparse here just now, and strictly in the greenhouse. Lachenalia
viridiflora is blooming at its peak. Cyclamen coum is still flowering, but
looks to be past its prime. One lone Nerine flexuosa is in
bloom. Haemanthus deformis and Androcymbium europaeum are both showing
color and appear just about ready to open.

We try to suppress bloom on the Clivia and the Hippeastrum until the
weather is a bit warmer. In the past I've tried to force them to flower by
Christmas, but it has never gone particularly well. Now we aim for late
January through early March as the target bloom times for these two
genera. However, one contrary Clivia nobilis is resolutely pushing up a
scape and showing color in the buds, even though the temperatures in that
greenhouse are kept close to 50 F.

Our best wishes to all for the holiday season!

Jim Shields
in cold, snowy central Indiana, where it looks as if we will have a White
Christmas

*************************************************
Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 Shields Gardens, Ltd.
P.O. Box 92 WWW: http://www.shieldsgardens.com/
Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA
Tel. ++1-317-867-3344 or toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA
Member of INTERNATIONAL CLIVIA CO-OP