Tropaeolum notes
Diana Chapman (Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:13:21 PST)
Hello Jane:
I am growing about ten different species of Tropaeolum, and I have often
thought I would try dividing the tuber. The tubers don't have a lot of
growing points, unlike potatoes, usually having two or three, the smaller
tubers only one. The trouble with Tropaeolum tubers is that they seem very
prone to rot if damaged at all. I have difficulty storing the tubers for
sale without some collapsing overnight into a mushy mess, while others stay
firm. I imagine if the tubers were divided they would have to be cured and
the cut surface treated with a fungicide, and I hope next season to try this
(if I remember!!). I have read somewhere that you can take cuttings from
the shoots, but they are so fragile I wonder if this would work. I don't
have a mist system at the moment, but when I get one set up I will try.
A few years ago I had lots of tree prunings and used my pear tree prunings
for support for the growing vines. They looked really lovely and very
natural growing up the branches and twigs. I don't have a source for twiggy
branches any more, so now I use chicken wire cylinders which work very well
but are not as attractive.
Diana
Telos Rare Bulbs
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jane McGary" <janemcgary@earthlink.net>
To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 3:56 PM
Subject: [pbs] Tropaeolum notes
Some time back forum member Bill Dijk wrote an interesting note about the
cultivation of small tuberous Tropaeolum species. I saved his contribution
and would like to ask him if we can use a version of it in the Rock Garden
Quarterly, but unfortunately his address didn't get saved with the text.
Would Bill please write to me directly about this?
Incidentally, Tropaeolum tricolor in my bulb frame has worked its way out
of the covering lights and has extended its stem onto the superstructure
of
the frame, despite occasional frost and far too much rain. So far the
exposed part shows no damage.
I wonder if anyone has successfully propagated these plants by cutting the
tuber (which looks like a little potato). I've just been growing them from
seed, which they set in small quantities. The seeds have elaiosomes
(fleshy
bits on the tip) that apparently attract ants, because volunteer seedlings
appear some distance from the parent plants in the frames. The tubers must
have contractile roots when in growth, because they can be found at
considerable depth. I like them very much, despite their propensity to try
to strangle any other plant within reach. The best defense is to give them
a support when planting the dormant tubers and make sure they stay on it.
Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA
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