--- Cameron McMaster <africanbulbs@haznet.co.za> wrote: > Here are some ideas on cultivation - hope I'm not > repeating what others have contributed! > > If possible, use a 20 cm clay pot (or add more holes > to a plastic pot) for up to six bulbs. Ensure good > drainage by first placing a few stones a the bottom, > then a layer of about 3 cm of peat or good compost. > Then fill the pot with a coarse growing medium, > containing grit or grainy sand. A ratio of one part > loam to three parts coarse sand/gritty mix should > do, with a bit more sand in the top four cm. > > The bulbs can be planted with the necks about four > cm deep. Water the pot thoroughly towards the end of > March, and then at about two-week intervals > throughout autumn, winter and early spring. In areas > with dry winters, water about every ten days. Do not > let the pot be baked by the sun, keep the sides > shaded and cool, but the plants need a few hours of > morning sun or strong light each day. Towards the > end of September or early October the pot should be > allowed to dry out for summer dormancy. The bulbs > can be left in the pot in a dry and airy spot. > > Some time during January, the flowers should appear, > flowering only for a few days. Mature bulbs that > have been lifted may be inclined to skip the first > season's flower. If the flowers have been pollinated > (you can transfer some pollen from one flower to > another), the aromatic fruits should appear out of > the bare ground some time in March-April. The leaves > follow thereafter. > > The whole fruit can be put into 250 ml brandy and > left to draw for a few weeks, for the famous > "kukamakranka brandy" that cures all stomach > ailments! Or you can squeeze out the fresh pips from > one end of the berry fruit, then dry the skin for an > unusual bookmark The pips can be spread out on a > plate to dry for about two days, then sow (just > pressed lightly half into the soil) and water > regularly - water from below if possible. Dry the > seedlings off towards the end of November or early > December. > > For the Northern Hemisphere, add on six months to be > in the right season! > > Rhoda > > Napier, Western Cape > > where the weather is behaving like summer and we > desperately need the winter rains > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > To Gethylis Starters; I would suggest planting them two inches apart. I have 15 Gethylis villosa in a pot 12 by 6 inches and the leaves get all tangled and although they are quite attractive they look a bit messy. Bob Werra in No. Calif.