Encouraging Calochortus to Set Seed

Jane McGary janemcgary@earthlink.net
Thu, 15 Aug 2013 15:41:31 PDT
I've never had to do anything to get the Calochortus species I grow 
(including those mentioned by Chris), so I assume that suitable 
pollinators are here, far from the homeland of most of them. If 
Chris's plants are flowering well, it probably is not the soil mix 
he/she is using, strange though it seems for this genus.

One thing that I've read is that Calochortus do not tolerate 
chlorinated water well. I use rainwater from a storage tank on my 
bulbs, and where I lived before I had my own well. I don't know if 
this could affect fertility.

Chris, have you looked to see if there are insects in the capsules? 
I've occasionally found small larvae in them, eating the seeds. Signs 
of infestation could include small holes in the capsules and weblike 
material in the capsules.

Jane McGary
Portland, Oregon, USA

At 05:11 PM 8/14/2013, Chris wrote:
>I'd appreciate any advice the *Calochortus* experts may have re: persuading
>plants to set seed.  I have had great luck getting flowers and plenty of
>pods, but a significant number of pods don't produce viable seed. A capsule
>develops (sometimes to full size) but stops developing before the seed
>matures.  I am wondering if this is common in *Calochortuses* and if there
>are common causes I can look to address when the season starts again.




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