TOW: Veltheimia
Jamie (Wed, 28 Jan 2004 12:05:48 PST)
At 06:00 PM 1/28/2004 +0000, you wrote:
Please can I have some clarification on which is which of these species?
Phillips and Rix Conservatory plants book says, although with some
reservations apparently;
V. bracteata, summer growing, dark evergreen leaves, flowering probably
June-July (RSA), bulbs squat, round, fleshy scales.
Dear Bryan,
I have found over the years that much published information regarding the
growth of South African winter-growing plants has been confusing and
subject to misinterpretation, due to the annoying habit which many garden
writers have - that is, describing growth using unqualified calendar-based
terminology, with no mention of hemisphere. Also, information from cold
climate growers who raise their plants in greenhouses (i. e.
conservatories) is variable, and unlikely to parallel that of the plants in
habitat.
My experience in coastal Northern California - a mediterranean climate
quite similar to many areas of habitat for this bulb - is that bracteata
has a variable but distinct summer dormant period. If grown in the ground
without supplemental water, the commencement of this dormant period ranges
from June to through July. New leaves begin to appear shortly after the
first fall rains, or with the advent of cooler fall weather, at which time
the plants are crying out for rain. This is about the only time I will
water them, other than that amount necessary to apply dilute soluble
fertilizer. Scapes, which as mentioned, can appear on plants as young as
three years, begin to appear in winter (December), but develop slowly, and
are today (Jan 28) still less than 1 foot tall. It is definitely NOT a
summer growing bulb.
V. capensis, winter growing, wavy edged glaucous leaves dying back in
summer, flowering April-July, bulbs long and narrow, papery tunic.
I am growing at least two different collections of V. capensis. None have a
papery tunic, but they behave as otherwise described, with the exception of
the flowering period, which I have not yet seen. I suspect that capensis
would prefer to be in Southern California, where winter is warmer, brighter
and drier.
They are 24"" or so in flower.
This is only slightly taller than the 18" I am getting outside.
Which am I growing? Mine look similar to the V. bracteata in the book,
only much paler flowers.
They are the most tolerant bulbs I know for house plants, probably more
so than even clivia, I only wish the colour was more interesting and the
flower stem was 12" shorter. The root system is surprisingly small for
such large bulbs, or maybe that is the way I grow them.
I would guess that your paler flowers, 24" scapes, and relatively small
root system are all indicative of indoor culture, and that your plants are
V. bracteata. My bracteata thrive in direct sun until around noon - I try
to give capensis full sun all day.
Jamie
Near Berkeley, CA