Zantedeschia
Steve Marak (Tue, 20 Jun 2006 08:44:11 PDT)
I'm very interested in trying some different strains of Z. aethiopica. I've
tried it outdoors here in NW Arkansas several times, with plants from several
sources - though I've no idea how different they really were as far as original
provenance - and of course failed miserably each time.
Here the problem seems to be our wildly fluctuating winter and spring
temperatures, just as Jamie describes. Z. aethiopica repeatedly starts into
growth too early, gets zapped when we have a hard frost, and after some number
of cycles just fades away. All the others stay safely underground until well
past the danger of any frost and so do well.
I've not tried it in a very wet situation, despite all those pictures I've seen
of it in habitat standing in water. It's an interesting idea. What depth of
water will Z. aethiopica tolerate?
Steve
On Mon, 19 Jun 2006, Jamie V. wrote:
John,
although I agree that provenance is important, I have found that the
same clone of Z. aethiopica will survive in my pond, but not in my
garden! Apparently, under the water it is assured a constant rest
during the Winter. I believe the repeated freeze-thaw of my typical
Cologne Winter simply breaks the dormancy of the plant in the garden and
the next frost weakens it until it finally succumbs.
...
Ciao,
Jamie V.
Cologne
John Grimshaw schrieb:
In view of the appparently abject failure of Zantedeschia aethiopica to
perform in Mid-West gardens, has any thought been given to provenance? The
species is very widespread in South Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope
...
-- Steve Marak
-- samarak@gizmoworks.com