minimum temp for Nerine?
Don Journet (Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:53:13 PDT)

I have just noticed the discussion on minimum temperatures for
Nerine and am surprised at the high temperatures quoted. Here in Bacchus
Marsh Victoria Australia I have been growing a few Nerines for many
years say around at least 25 years. I grow the bulbs outside where
winter temperatures fall to -5ºC and certainly /N. flexuosa/ and /N./
'Fothergillii Major' flower reliably. They grow in the same conditions
as my Lachenalia collection. If temperatures affect their flowering it
certainly is not the winter temperature. We do have hot summers and
perhaps the bulbs require to be very warm over the summer period to
'ripen'.
I fear that simply quoting maximum and minimum temperatures does
not completely describe the requirements of these bulbs. Is it possible
that average temperatures or day length might affect flower initiation.
I must add that our low temperatures do not occur for long periods and
probably last for no more than a few hours. Certainly these temperatures
do not extend into the day time and probably occur mainly at dawn but
sometimes frost do occur at night fall. Day time temperatures will
usually climb to 5ºC or 10ºC and ice will soon melt. I certainly do not
use a greenhouse or any other form of covering.
I hope that this adds to the discussion and if anyone wants more
information please ask.

Kind regards
Don Journet
Bacchus Marsh
Victoria
Australia

Diane Whitehead wrote: