Alstroemeria
James Waddick (Thu, 01 Jun 2006 11:16:50 PDT)

Dear all;
I thought I'd tell you my beautiful failure to grow
Alstroemeria. Last summer as fall approached, I thought it would be a
good idea to try growing some full size/tall hybrid Alstroemeria in
my cool greenhouse for mid-winter bloom. I arranged a few trades from
members of this list and others and ended up with nearly a dozen 2,5
and 10 gall pots of Alstroemeria roots in a range of colors. They
soon settled down and began to grow.

As planned they didn't seem to mind the frost free, but cool
greenhouse and the reduced winter light we get here. But there was no
bloom. I waited until Feb, March, April and they got more and more
vigorous, green and lush; soon filling their pots. As April
approached the weather warmed and they began to spend some time
outside the greenhouse on mild days. By the end of April flower buds
finally appeared and by the first of May the first few flowers
opened, but the plants were fully outside the greenhouse day and
night.

Then I left the country for 3 weeks+. On my return they are
all in gorgeous bloom in various shades of pink, red, purple and
orange (no yellow or white by coincidence). They are now lining my
front walk and look great.

So my planned ultimately failed. Not one bloomed in the
greenhouse at all, but I can't complain since they look so good now.

Maybe this fall, I'll get them into the greenhouse a bit
earlier and get something to bloom in Feb. IN THE GREENHOUSE.

Try again. Best Jim W.

ps OR are their early blooming or cool season hybrids I SHOULD have
tried? Grow first and ask questions afterward.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +