Homeria collina
ConroeJoe@aol.com (Sun, 21 Nov 2004 12:12:41 PST)

Hi,

I got some corms about 18-20 months ago, from an email garden friend. We
traded daylilies for Homeria and Lycoris.

I potted them up, and they grew a little, but they didn't get lush in the 2-3
months before hot, wet summer set in. I dried them down for 4-5 months and
then brought them out for last winter--they were in a small clay pot (7-8
inches) and in soil that was about 60% coarse sand and perlite. They did OK all
winter and then I dried them down this past June.

I don't know if they will take summer here. June was a mess with rain every
day and sticky humidity in between, with nights around 75 F (24 C) and days
near 95 F (35 C). Such temperatures are nothing like the H. collina has a
reputation as a weed in some climates, so perhaps it is very forgiving and might
do fine here in summer if provided with adequate drainage.

The corms have been outside now since mid-October (winter 2) and I repotted
them up into a 10 inch clay pot (double soil volume, and provided a bit richer
soil mix around the original soil ball. The plants have responded
well--suddenly taller than ever before at 18-20 inches. I'll keep the pot on the sunny
front porch; the corms did well there last year, happily enduring temperatures
down to 25 F (-4 C). This fall I have provided dilute fertilizer--first 1/2
strength fish emulsion and then, 4 weeks later, 1/4 strength 20-20-20 with
micronutrients.

The foliage is attractive, grasslike, sometimes a bit pendant, richly green
but with a hint of blue on a cloudy day like today. The grasslike leaves look
good in a terra cotta pot. Mine have not flowered, perhaps this coming spring
they will do so. I understand yellow forms exist; mine are supposed to be
orange and I'll look around for yellow eventually.

Cordially,

Conroe Joe
zone 9a, 5-7 inches of rain this week, lows near 60 F, highs near 75 F
greater Houston, TX area