Ammocharis--TOW
Mary Sue Ittner (Mon, 25 Oct 2004 18:56:23 PDT)

Dear All,

Thanks to all of you who have shared your experiences about Ammocharis
coranica and to Cameron for such a complete picture of how it grows in the
wild. I got seed of this a number of years ago from Silverhill Seeds and
like everyone else found that it germinated well and grew on. For the last
three years it has been in one of my raised beds being treated to
Mediterranean growing conditions, wet in winter and dry in summer. I have
it in a 10 inch pot and haven't repotted it. It hasn't bloomed yet and I
have observed leaves at various times of the year, but have been puzzled
about what it actually needs. It is in leaf at the moment.

Now I am wondering if it will ever bloom under this reverse cycle. Tom says
he fertilizes his in spring and summer so I am assuming that means he
waters in summer. Is there any attempt to keep it dry in winter? Mine
obviously survives with winter rainfall. Does it need a period of drought
to bloom? Anyone think it might need summer heat as well? Are there any
other is a Mediterranean climate growing this and if so how do you treat
it? Cameron, how will you treat yours now that you are no longer living in
the Eastern Cape? Tony Avent must be growing this if he gave some recently
to the BX. Tony, do you grow yours outside and how has it fared in your
climate.

Does anyone grow any other species?

I made a wiki Ammocharis page for Cameron and have added two of the images
that he mentioned. Hopefully he will reload the picture of them flowering
after a fire since it didn't seem to make it to the wiki.

http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/…

Mary Sue