Ferraria growing conditions
mark zukaitis (Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:27:08 PST)

I don't know much about growing conditions for Ferraria but you reminded me of the time in Key West that I found a patch along someone's walk and I was surprised by the intricate flowers (though they were small in proportion to the plant). It looked like a pretty old planting.
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Mace<mailto:mikemace@att.net>
To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org<mailto:pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 4:11 PM
Subject: Re: [pbs] Ferraria growing conditions

Brian wrote:

Brian, I want to underline what Alberto said -- Ferraria when they're happy
are thick-stalked plants that don't flop over.

I grow them in California, in 8-inch (20 cm) pots, in an area where the
temperature in winter ranges from the 50s-60s during the day (around 15C)
down to about 20F at night (about -7C). They don't show any frost damage at
that temperature, although they do get leaf burn if the temp drops much
below that. So you definitely do not need to keep them warmer than they
already are in your frost-free greenhouse. They might even be a bit happier
growing in colder conditions.

I'm also a little surprised that you have some of them over a foot high
already. Mine are just getting started at this time of year (my earliest
one, Ferraria densepunctulata, is a few inches tall right now). Of course,
the pots are bone dry from May until late October, so there's nothing to
trigger growth during the summer.

If I had to guess, I'd suggest more light, lower temperatures in the growing
season with day-night variation, and keep them as dry as you can in summer.

Hope that helps.

Mike
San Jose CA (zone 9, min temp 20F / -7C)

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