>From: David Sneddon <mrgoldbear@yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
>To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
>Subject: [pbs] Hippeastrum Cybister Potting Mix
>Date: Fri, 27 May 2005 19:59:56 -0700 (PDT)
>
>Howdy,
>
>I'm thinking of repotting cybisters and want to use a better mix than what
>I have now which is sharp but better suited to forest growing hippeastrums.
>I was thinking of introducing some chicken grit. I'd appreciate comments
>about what works for other people for this species and any comments as to
>using chicken grit for hippeastrums.
>
>What do these plants grow in, in their native habitat, did I see or read
>that it is a heavy type of sand, in mountain and with very little rainfall?
>
>Regards,
>David
Hi David:
Cybister, argentinum, parodii and ambiguum are peculiar in that
they always grow in full sun in the open. The region is droughtland with
very little air humidity. The soil can be a mellow organic plus coarse
sand "mix" or either different sizes of sands. In the wild they receive
water from December to March at most in our Hemisphere (south) meaning that
they spend part of spring under dry conditions. Dormancy is long ans in part
of autumn, all winter and part of spring. Bulbs are found really deep in the
ground and they must be allowed to develop the long neck they have in
Nature. As for the mix it MUST contain crushed rock and different grit sizes
to obtain the best of drainages. With such a long bulb it is easy that it
rests on stagnant soil in a common pot with great risk of rot.
Regards
Alberto
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