Hi Jane, I am also very interested in alstroemeria I find even here, with a warmer climate, it is best to grow the young plants in pots and pamper them, Once they have grown bigger, then I put them in the ground. perhaps try again with one princess lily, and only put it out when it is a big plant,. Let me know how you get on Angela Western Australia ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jane McGary" <janemcgary@earthlink.net> To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 6:28 AM Subject: Re: [pbs] Alstroemeria > Jim Waddick reported on his success keeping hybrid alstroemerias in the > greenhouse for setting out after frost. > > Last summer I decided to trial some of the new "Princess" series of alstro > hybrids, which are short-growing bedding plants. I bought half a dozen > forms (a considerable investment) and planted them in what should be a > perfect site. Unfortunately, not a single one made it through the winter, > during which the low was 17 degrees F without snow cover. > > I think these pretty plants have A. pelegrina in their ancestry (the bright > green, glossy, rather succulent leaves of most forms suggest this), and > that is a very tender species that grows right on the coast. Thus, Jim's > management technique may be the only way for those of us in cooler regions > to enjoy "Princess" alstros. > > I did keep a piece of one gorgeous purple one (I suspected the color alone > indicated tender ancestry, e.g. A. paupercula) in a pot indoors and it's > now flowering. > > Fortunately there are hardier species available, some of which I've grown > outdoors for 4 or 5 years, but they tend to be big and lax in habit. I > don't know if there are hybrids exclusively from these tougher ones. > > Jane McGary > Northwestern Oregon, USA > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >