ixia viridiflora
Mary Sue Ittner (Tue, 07 Oct 2003 07:54:29 PDT)

Hi,

Ixia viridiflora has a reputation for being short lived and difficult. It
is a very popular flower because of its amazing turquoise color and I
expect people who sell it sell out every year.

I reread some postings on it from a number of years ago on another list.
Some people advised never disturbing the plants after they were potted
saying that some corms didn't survive repotting. Some advised a dry
dormancy, but at least one person who advised that admitted that corms
planted that way only lasted a couple of seasons before they stopped
blooming and disappeared. A couple others commented that bulbs they had
planted where they got summer water were doing just fine. Someone else
suggested maybe that is why people in New Zealand do well because bulbs
would be getting year round water.

Unlike some of you I don't water most of my winter growing bulbs when they
are dormant. Water is precious here and very expensive and our water supply
probably comes indirectly from our river. We are encouraged to conserve in
summer so there will be enough water left in the river for the fish. Most
of my bulbs survive just fine this way and if they don't, I console myself
that perhaps they weren't meant for me to grow. But after those stories
about Ixia viridiflora I began to make sure it got some summer water and it
has bloomed for me every year since. I wouldn't say all the corms bloom,
but enough to enjoy.

I checked my notes and my Ixia viridiflora bloomed the third year from
seed. I first started it in 1995 however and I know lots more about growing
from seed now so expect if I did it now it would bloom the second year from
seed.

Mary Sue

Mary Sue Ittner
California's North Coast
Wet mild winters with occasional frost
Dry mild summers