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Jim McKenney (Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:28:53 PDT)

-----Original Message-----
From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org]
On Behalf Of James Waddick
Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 8:21 AM
To: Pacific Bulb Society
Subject: Re: [pbs] Ungernia befuddlement

Dear Lee,
Join the club.
I do have an answer to your message, but I want to check the
original source in a xerox on my desk -somewhere.
I did some translation and compiled just such an annual life
cycle chart showing details of when each part of the annual growth
cycle begins, flower bud initiation etc. Just have to find it and I
can mail you a xerox of the whole thing. It is fairly similar to
Lycoris -not surprisingly.
Ungernia come from both mild and cold temperate areas so
would benefit from all the cold you can provide them in winter. I
assume pots do not freeze through -which may kill bulbs in pots. You
may be mild enough there that the bulbs do not behave like they would
in more extreme climates wit really cold/cold cycles.

Since you managed to get germination and growth from Halda
seeds you are way ahead of the game already. I never did. You have
surely seen that Ungernia seeds are more like Hippeastrum -flatten
papery seeds, than like Lycoris which have black rounded hard seeds.

I'd say keep on doing what you are doing. I suspect that ,
like Lycoris, they take a long time to get to blooming size.
Yes definitely use deep pots. Lycoris generally move up to a
shallow situation in the soil, but I think Ungernia are much less
likely suggested by bulb morphology.

I think they can take a fair to large amount of water in
spring growth and restricted in mid summer to fall. Winter snow might
provide cover for most species.

There's one bit of info I can put my cyber-finger ; an
article, in German, on Ungernia's distinct morphology. If anyone
wants a copy I can email it direct as it is too large to include with
this message.

Give me a day to dig this out.

And of course I have been eyeing my own Ungernia in hopes
that a flower spike will appear this year, but not optimistic.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. 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 +

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