Tropaeolum

David Victor davidxvictor@btinternet.com
Sun, 11 Dec 2005 11:04:45 PST
Mary Sue wrote


>While we are speaking of Tropaeolum, does anyone have any suggestions for
>getting the tubers to come up? Do I need to grow all of them (except for T.
>tricolor which I can usually get to grow outside) in the greenhouse? Harry
>Hay had a lot of plants that were successfully growing and blooming in his
>UK greenhouses and David Victor and Ian Young were growing plants in
>greenhouses too. I remember Bill Dijk had his sheltered a bit from the
>elements as well. Last year T. brachyceras did not come up at all and three
>species including it have not started into growth. I've moved them into the
>greenhouse, but so far no signs of activity.

Sorry for the delay in replying Mary Sue, but I was out of town.  As you 
say, I tend to grow my Tropaeolum in my cold greenhouse.  It gets down to 
minus five Celsius in there in if there's a cold period, but they come 
through without trouble.  I have around half a dozen in growth at the 
moment, including T. albiflorum (often mistakenly called T. sessilifolium), 
T. brachyceras and T. incisum.  I've also got a T. tricolorum (or is it T. 
tricolor?) growing in the heated house all along the lighting cables.  All 
of these will flower in the early spring.  The ones growing in the cold 
house are hopelessly tangled up amongst a number of Bomarea, so I guess it 
will all be pretty spectacular!

Incidentally, I totally agree with Jane's later note.  Both Tropaeolum and 
Bomarea takes holidays some years if the combination of light and 
temperature aren't right.  However, determining the correct mix is not 
something I have the patience to work out, so I just enjoy pot luck!


Best regards,
David Victor 



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