I think the various comments speak to the plasticity in survivability due to horticultural care. I'm in Eagle Rock, CA, between Glendale and Pasadena. We have the same conditions as the San Fernando Valley, same cold, hot, rain, dry seasons and cycles in this band just beyond the initial reach of the ocean influence. I have my H. vaginata growing in pots with a fast draining mix...and they come back every year. They bloom profusely and beautifully. Could it be that in a hotter, drier climate the clay soils help retain moisture longer compared to a more forgiving location where the faster draining soils are necessary to keep the bulb from being too wet too long? --- On Thu, 10/25/12, Leo A. Martin <leo@possi.org> wrote: From: Leo A. Martin <leo@possi.org> Subject: Re: [pbs] Hesperantha vaginata To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org Date: Thursday, October 25, 2012, 9:59 PM To more specifically answer Shmuel, > Also, I know [H. vaginata] is native to an area in S Africa with > clay soils. Would one still use a loose, fast draining mix in a pot? I would say No, don't use a loose, fast draining mix in a pot. I disagree with the others who answered. I live in the desert and for clay-dwellers I use a heavy mix of fine granite silt and coarse sand. I would recommend you try what I presume is your local fine-particle desert or grassland soil. Your winters are generally of low humidity unless it's raining, right? And the bulbs will be better insulated in heavy soil during the summer. If I lived in a high-humidity summer area I might use a loose, coarse mix to try and avoid rot. But summer rot is not a problem in a dry desert. Leo Martin Phoenix Arizona USA