Tecophilaea
totototo@telus.net (Sat, 08 Jul 2006 12:31:43 PDT)
On 8 Jul 06, at 11:22, Jacinda and Barry wrote:
I have been meaning to ask if anyone grows this and if it is easy to
set from seed. Also I am aware of one of the Bulb Mail order houses
that sells it in Tasmania but not of any others.
Would love some info that doesn't come just out of a book.
Greatly appreciate any assistance as would like to try growing them
but they are about $30 each here! Regards
1. Add lots of fine granite sand (canary grit, say) or rotted granite
to your potting mix. Tecophilaea seems to like the potassium granite
gradually releases.
2. The bulbs will set seed if you hand-pollinate them.
3. Seedlings reputedly take a long time to reach flowering size and
are rather tricky to carry over the first few years.
4. Foliage is scanty so Tecophilaea must be protected from slugs.
5. Give them a circum-neutral soil, pH 6 or 7.
6. Give them a *cool* dry summer rest: no water, but in the shade.
I grow mine in large pots so I can give them shelter from hard arctic
freezes, but they spend most of the winter outdoors, sheltered
overhead from rain, in as sunny a spot as I can provide.
They can handle some frost.
--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate
on beautiful Vancouver Island