Jacob, Bessera elegans occurs over a wide area of western Mexico and within that range elevation varies appreciably. I've seen it in Guerrero at 6000-7000ft and in Sinaloa at only a few hundred feet overlooking the Pacific, where it was warm and muggy. This is a good example of the importance of ascertaining the wild origin of one's plants where possible, and obtaining as precise information as possible. Dylan On 8/27/07, Jacob Knecht <sabepafronta@yahoo.com> wrote: > Aloha friends, > > This was my first year growing Bessera, and it put on > a breathtaking show. As of last week it has officially > gone into dormancy. From everything I have been told > and read, I presume that in my climate, I ought to > keep them dry from the onset of dormancy until April > or May of the following year. Then water once or > twice, waiting for leaves to break the surface until > daily watering can be done with relative impunity > during active growth until the season of growth comes > to a close. > > I used a mix of 50% black cinder and 50% potting soil > (a brand called Big R) that drains instantly. > > I wonder if it's precipitation that triggers their > emergence or do seasonal temperature changes hold more > sway? My one concern is that my winter lows are not > low enough (rarely go below 65F outdoors under my roof > eaves where I keep dormant potted bulbs), and as such, > they might need cooler temps to season them properly > for the following year's growth. > > I realise that although Bessera's native latitude is > similar to mine here in Hawai`i, but I hear that they > grow at much higher altitudes. I am at about 300' > above sea level. > > Any reflections on Bessera cultivation at tropical > latitudes would be greatly appreciated, as well as > temperature data from their habitat, if anyone has > access to it. > > Cheers, > > Jacob Knecht > Honolulu, Hawai`i > > see my botanical photography at: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/morabeza79/ > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more. > http://mobile.yahoo.com/go/?refer=1GNXIC > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ >