Repotting Tecophilaea
totototo@telus.net (Mon, 21 Aug 2006 07:37:18 PDT)

I've just finished repotting my _Tecophilaea_cyanocrocus_, the three
usual forms, the type, var. leichtlinii, and var. violacea.

I took a hint from discussion on this mailing list last year and
repotted them from the usual 2.5 liter ("one gallon") pots into the
next size up, abt. 7 liters capacity or so. As I have done for some
years, they were potted into a sandy mix rich in granite canary grit.
Supposedly the slow release of potassium from fine granite grit is
beneficial.

The type form and var. leichtlinii seem to have done well and formed
a reasonable number of flowering size corms, but var. violcacea
formed only what you might call "half size" corms.

I'll keep the pots on the front porch (north facing) until there's
some signs of foliage, sometime in the fall or winter, then move them
to as sunny a spot as I have, with overhead shelter from the rain.
They'll be moved to safety in a frost-free storage room if a serious
cold wave threatens.

Comments? Suggestions for better growth?

--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate

on beautiful Vancouver Island