Joe- I agree that A. cooperi is more than a keeper. My cooperi just started blooming while I was out of town. The flower head is larger than I expected from such a small plant and the flowers are nicely pendant. I am growing mine outside in a smal pot (bright, partial sun) and much wetter than I grow other aloes (due to a wet summer and my travel preventing bringing it in). I estimate that the soil in the pot has only dried completely two times this summer, at best. Despite the excessive moisture, it looks quite healthy. I've now moved it to a drier location under the eaves. I hope thats not a mistake, but I worry about rot. I just noticed a second flower head emerging while the first is not even halfway through blooming! Regards, -Phil >From: "Joe Shaw" <jshaw@opuntiads.com> >Reply-To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> >To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> >Subject: [pbs] Those darn wannabe geophyte things >Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2006 19:01:41 -0500 > >Hi Gang, > >I purchased seeds of Aloe cooperi a few years back from Silverhill Seeds. >The seeds germinated easily, and the plants have grow well, so well that I >gave some away. > >In the beginning, I was not sure what to expect, and kept the plants in a >position that was not sunny enough. I was sure they would die with the >least provocation. > >However, they did survive, and I potted them up to 2-gallon containers are >year ago (or so). I put in lots of scoria, perlite, and very coarse sand. >The plants hardly blinked when temperatures dropped to 23 F for an hour or >two in the past 2 winters (about -5 C). They certainly did not lose their >leaves; in fact they never lose their leaves, perhaps it is just not cold >enough or dry enough here. The leaves reach to about 24 inches in length, >and may get a bit of tip damage in winter, but they don't die back. > >This year the plants are tall, leaves over 24 inches, and the biggest plant >has 4-5 leaf clumps; the scape reaches higher than the leaves. They don't >make seed unless I hand pollinate them; I think they are lacking the right >bird or insect. What keepers! The flowers are not exactly super gorgeous, >but growing aloes outdoors in Houston is not a usual occurance. > >I have some more seedlings coming on (2 years behind), and some A. ecklonis >and a few other things. I don't know if fungicides are helping, but I have >always provided myclobutanil for the outside aloes, the seed grown Aloes >from Silverhill. I use the Spectracide lawn granules/meal and put it over >the top of the soil (they grow in pots), several times a year. Maybe they >would do OK without fungicide, I can't say. However, from experience >growing cacti here, I take no chances with plants from arid climates. > > >Cordially, > > >Joe > >_______________________________________________ >pbs mailing list >pbs@lists.ibiblio.org >http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php