Scoliopus bigelovii
Rodger Whitlock (Sat, 29 Jan 2005 17:07:52 PST)
On 28 Jan 05 at 14:55, John wrote:
On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 11:22:11 -8 "Rodger Whitlock"
<totototo@pacificcoast.net> wrote:
This sounds similar to the methods used by some of the
experts to grow cyclamen species in containers: very
deep pots sitting in about 1/4" water during the summer.
I'm not sure I'd recommend this, and I don't know anyone
who uses such an approach. Sitting any cyclamen in a pot
in a saucer permanently filled with water is a recipe for
rot, especially whilst dormant in the summer.
Was described to me by Rex Murfitt; is the method used by one of the
really expert cyclamen-in-pot growers in the UK.
Note: very deep means a good 12" or more. As I understand it, while
the very bottom of the pot is soggy, the soil above is barely damp.
I've always found cyclamen difficult to grow in pots and have formed
a hypothesis: that they have very penetrating root systems that are
active year round, so the tubers remain turgid all summer even in
conditions of severe drought. When in a pot, the soil dries out
totally in summer unless you take great care. When this happens, the
tuber desiccates, and revival is tricky in the fall.
This method of deep pots sitting in very shallow water (which I do
not actually use, btw) sounds like a good way of preventing the
tuber from desiccating. I've used a similar method, double potting
with a terra cotta inner pot surrounded by sand, to get somewhat the
same effect.
--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate
on beautiful Vancouver Island