Lycoris report - 1
James Waddick (Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:06:21 PDT)

Dear Friends,
With all the reports about Lycoris blooming - it is the season.
Just starting here too with L. squamigera leading the pack.
We had a lot of rain this spring - way over the average and I think
this has bulked up the bulbs as we are getting multiple stems per
bulb and very tall stalks.

I have a few L. longituba just starting up and the tallest
stalk has topped out just prior to bloom at 40 inches to the base of
the inflorescence. Add 4-5 inches to the peak. This is exception, but
a number of other stalks are easily 36 inches, also very tall.

After a week and 1/2 of no rain, there's a big rain storm
predicted for tonight. So I expect to see a flurry of activity in a
week or less. So far there's bloom or stalks on L . squamigera,
longituba. sprengeri, L. chinensis and some hybrids. Usually L.
sanguinea is the first to show, but no sign yet. It was badly hurt in
April '07 late killer freezes so may still be set back.

Incidentally, Diana, Lycoris are very poor bloomers in pots.
I feel lucky to get a single bloom per pot. A friend on the East
Coast has better bloom, but they have a lot more rain and I assume
this makes all the difference. They can take / appreciate a LOT of
water in spring maybe even sitting in water as I have seen in the
wild in China for a couple species.

Last year's freeze damaged all Lycoris foliage very badly and
this year we had no damages and lots of rain, but buds are formed in
the previous fall as I recall so they might still be light due to
last year's damages. I'll report more in 'part 2'

Meanwhile enjoying the show. Jim W.
--
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 +