Albuca

Thank you all!
I bought the Albucas at the end of February or early March, from Logee´s
Greenhouse in Danielson, CT, with which I have had happy dealings for
years. Their tag says "Albuca spiralis Frizzle Sizzle (I know--it´s just
a tag.) They are in 4" pots with rapidly draining fluffy and gritty
potting mix. One is a split bulb which made 2 flowers, and both halves
are independently sprouting. The other is a singleton about an inch and
a quarter across, light green and of the laminated, waxy consistency of
a Boweia, and it is sprouting as well. When I bought them, each of the 3
bulbs had about 5 or 6 slender spiraling leaves from 4-7"tall, and a
flower. The leaves are very narrow, a cylinder with one flattened side,
and the mature leaves are flat at the attached end where they leave the
bulb. After flowering, some of the leaves turned brown and dried up, but
new ones are sprouting. The leaves, old and new, are hairless and
smooth. They are matte. I thought they might have a wax coating, but
rubbing them doesn´t make them shine and has no effect. The tips curl.
The flower spikes were about 16" tall with many florets covering them,
greenish-gray but with a little bit of greenish-yellow in the central
parts. The impression they gave was dull green. When they withered, I
cut them off. The flowers were in good shape with some florets still
opening when I got the plants, so I can´t believe they started flowering
as early as October. A few weeks after losing their flowers, they began
to sprout new leaves out of their centers, and now the tips are making
their first little ringlets. The plants at present look vigorous and
enthusiastic. Their windowsill is at the corner junction of two large
windows, facing south and west, with a skylight above, but this is
Massachusetts, not Africa. I wish I could try to grow Albuca in the
ground in my Mexican garden, but that´s not Africa, either. Dry winter
and wet summer.
It´s nice to know that bees pollinate them. I always like to know where
a plant fits in. This may very well be something other than spiralis,
but it is quirky and charming. Should Albucas stay in little pots or
have something roomier eventually?
Jane

On 22/04/2016 11:14 p. m., pbs-request@lists.ibiblio.org wrote:

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Today's Topics:

1. Re: I want to introduce myself (Christian Treder)
2. Re: scilla maderensis vs pot (Vivien Bouffard)
3. Re: scilla maderensis vs pot (arnold140@verizon.net)
4. Re: scilla maderensis vs pot (Hugh Povey)
5. Re: I want to introduce myself (Karl Church)
6. Re: I want to introduce myself (L. Cortopassi - G. Corazza)
7. Mexico and Albuca (Jane Sargent)
8. Mexico and Albuca (Monica Swartz)
9. Mexico and Albuca (Talley Ho)
10. Mexico and Albuca (Travis O)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2016 13:54:03 +0800
From: Christian Treder <realtreder@gmx.de>
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [pbs] I want to introduce myself
Message-ID: <6668082B-425E-4922-8553-CC14ABA3476C@gmx.de>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Hello Karl,

I?ve checked the webpage ?Brazil Plants? and indeed - I found pictures of that small species there. I have written Mauro Peixoto now and hope for the best.

Nice to hear that you have such a good collection already and that you are sharing material through the SX and BX. I hope I can also contribute some more hippeastrum material to the exchanges in the future. For now I have to keep working on building my collection first. As mentioned before I only have very little so far.

Are those 2 yr old hybrids your own? Do you also grow other plants or mainly hippeastrum?

best wishes
Chris :-)

On Apr 22, 2016, at 1:20 PM, Karl Church <64kkmjr@gmail.com> wrote:

Chris,

Not sure if it's been discussed but Mauro Peixoto of Brazil Plants may be a
source. I have about 25 species and probably 100 different hybrids most of
which are only 1-2 yrs old. I try to share seeds through the SX, as do
several others. Some even share bulbs through the BX.

Nice to hear from someone else who's into Hippeastrums.

Karl

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2016 04:38:19 -0400
From: Vivien Bouffard <vbouffard55@msn.com>
To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [pbs] scilla maderensis vs pot
Message-ID: <BAY407-EAS3795F49F5906DA0BFE0F016BC6F0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Arnold, they grew under fluorescent lights. Interesting that Nick had the
same experience with timing.

Vivien

Norwood, MA

Message: 6

Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2016 13:39:24 -0400

From: Arnold140 <arnold140@verizon.net <mailto:arnold140@verizon.net> >

To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
<mailto:pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> >

Subject: Re: [pbs] scilla maderensis vs pot

Message-ID: <206B9BDF-C37F-4FD6-9BB9-4A36530D816A@verizon.net
<mailto:206B9BDF-C37F-4FD6-9BB9-4A36530D816A@verizon.net> >

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi Vivien:

How did you grow them. Greenhouse, sunny window or what?

Thanks

Arnold

New Jersey

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 21, 2016, at 1:01 PM, Vivien Bouffard <vbouffard55@msn.com

<mailto:vbouffard55@msn.com> > wrote:

We all seem to have glommed on to the offer from Easy to Grow Bulbs! I

planted all three at the same time, two in one pot and one solo. Nothing
happened for a very long time and finally one of the bulbs sharing a pot
started to make roots and then send up a stem. Shortly thereafter, the solo
bulb did the same. It was a few weeks later before the third bulb started
to send up growth. All bloomed nicely, but on their own schedules. I'm
hoping they won't be one-shot wonders. They haven't gone dormant yet.

Vivien
Norwood, MA (Z6)<

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2016 05:24:35 -0500 (CDT)
From: arnold140@verizon.net
To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [pbs] scilla maderensis vs pot
Message-ID:
<25925904.52718.1461320675202.JavaMail.root@tvweb133081.mailsrvcs.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Vivien:

Thanks, mine are growing on a sunny shelf in a cool greenhouse. Six inch leaves but not a sign of a flower bud.

Arnold

On 04/22/16, Vivien Bouffard wrote:

Arnold, they grew under fluorescent lights. Interesting that Nick had the
same experience with timing.

Vivien

Norwood, MA

Message: 6

Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2016 13:39:24 -0400

From: Arnold140 <arnold140@verizon.net <mailto:arnold140@verizon.net> >

To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
<mailto:pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> >

Subject: Re: [pbs] scilla maderensis vs pot

Message-ID: <206B9BDF-C37F-4FD6-9BB9-4A36530D816A@verizon.net
<mailto:206B9BDF-C37F-4FD6-9BB9-4A36530D816A@verizon.net> >

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi Vivien:

How did you grow them. Greenhouse, sunny window or what?

Thanks

Arnold

New Jersey

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 21, 2016, at 1:01 PM, Vivien Bouffard <vbouffard55@msn.com

<mailto:vbouffard55@msn.com> > wrote:

We all seem to have glommed on to the offer from Easy to Grow Bulbs! I

Vivien
Norwood, MA (Z6)<

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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2016 05:45:03 -0500
From: Hugh Povey <hpovey@talk21.com>
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [pbs] scilla maderensis vs pot
Message-ID: <110C0DDD-37C6-4CFE-9DEB-BA9E7B1BB263@talk21.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Definitely over analysing. All the same batch from the same field and grower. Once into their regular cycle they should flower relaibly every year. Any bulb which is harvested and then cleaned and dried for shipping,cooled then kept in a stock can become confused about when it should flower. In the spring turn off the water and allow to become naturally dormant. When it is started back into life again in the fall by water and lower night temperatures it will spout quickly and flower in 4-6 weeks.

Hugh

On 21 Apr 2016, at 14:23, Nicholas plummer <nickplummer@gmail.com> wrote:

My three bulbs also started growing at different times and bloomed several
weeks apart. I think someone else reported the same thing. The consistency
makes me wonder if they have three batches of bulbs and send one of each.
Or perhaps I am over-analyzing a coincidence.

Nick Plummer

On Thu, Apr 21, 2016 at 1:01 PM, Vivien Bouffard <vbouffard55@msn.com>
wrote:

We all seem to have glommed on to the offer from Easy to Grow Bulbs! I
planted all three at the same time, two in one pot and one solo. Nothing
happened for a very long time and finally one of the bulbs sharing a pot
started to make roots and then send up a stem. Shortly thereafter, the
solo bulb did the same. It was a few weeks later before the third bulb
started to send up growth. All bloomed nicely, but on their own
schedules. I'm hoping they won't be one-shot wonders. They haven't gone
dormant yet.

Vivien
Norwood, MA (Z6)

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------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2016 07:10:36 -0700
From: Karl Church <64kkmjr@gmail.com>
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [pbs] I want to introduce myself
Message-ID:
<CAGquAQhiyUtiDGOd9sqk3TUOW+yOz-ZVrVKyG=D_Q26ohjVZSw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Chris,

I have a variety of bulbs, most acquired through the BX. My other addiction
is Adeniums. I have 6 species and lots of hybrids. I grow most of both from
seed and am just starting to see some put forth blossom. Over the next few
years I expect to have all my species producing flowers. To think, this all
started as a hobby and became an addition.

Good Luck with yours.

Karl
On Apr 21, 2016 10:54 PM, "Christian Treder" <realtreder@gmx.de> wrote:

Hello Karl,

I?ve checked the webpage ?Brazil Plants? and indeed - I found pictures of
that small species there. I have written Mauro Peixoto now and hope for the
best.

Nice to hear that you have such a good collection already and that you are
sharing material through the SX and BX. I hope I can also contribute some
more hippeastrum material to the exchanges in the future. For now I have to
keep working on building my collection first. As mentioned before I only
have very little so far.

Are those 2 yr old hybrids your own? Do you also grow other plants or
mainly hippeastrum?

best wishes
Chris :-)

On Apr 22, 2016, at 1:20 PM, Karl Church <64kkmjr@gmail.com> wrote:

Chris,

Not sure if it's been discussed but Mauro Peixoto of Brazil Plants may

be a

source. I have about 25 species and probably 100 different hybrids most

which are only 1-2 yrs old. I try to share seeds through the SX, as do
several others. Some even share bulbs through the BX.

Nice to hear from someone else who's into Hippeastrums.

Karl

_______________________________________________
pbs mailing list
pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/

------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2016 19:36:21 +0200
From: "L. Cortopassi - G. Corazza" <cortocora@gmail.com>
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [pbs] I want to introduce myself
Message-ID:
<CAK-yN6dL2d1SCJu9qaCu=OATKYcm2DcZG=6f_W3Rc5+srBs2GQ@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Hi Chris,
I am growing about ten species of Hippeastrum, some are small plants from
seed at the moment. I do not grow Amorphophallus now. Yes, we could trade
some species in the future. :-)
Gianluca

2016-04-22 16:10 GMT+02:00 Karl Church <64kkmjr@gmail.com>:

Chris,

Good Luck with yours.

Karl
On Apr 21, 2016 10:54 PM, "Christian Treder" <realtreder@gmx.de> wrote:

Hello Karl,

I?ve checked the webpage ?Brazil Plants? and indeed - I found pictures of
that small species there. I have written Mauro Peixoto now and hope for

the

best.

Nice to hear that you have such a good collection already and that you

are

sharing material through the SX and BX. I hope I can also contribute some
more hippeastrum material to the exchanges in the future. For now I have

keep working on building my collection first. As mentioned before I only
have very little so far.

Are those 2 yr old hybrids your own? Do you also grow other plants or
mainly hippeastrum?

best wishes
Chris :-)

On Apr 22, 2016, at 1:20 PM, Karl Church <64kkmjr@gmail.com> wrote:

Chris,

Not sure if it's been discussed but Mauro Peixoto of Brazil Plants may

be a

source. I have about 25 species and probably 100 different hybrids most

which are only 1-2 yrs old. I try to share seeds through the SX, as do
several others. Some even share bulbs through the BX.

Nice to hear from someone else who's into Hippeastrums.

Karl

_______________________________________________
pbs mailing list
pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/

------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2016 14:43:23 -0400
From: Jane Sargent <jane@deskhenge.com>
To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [pbs] Mexico and Albuca
Message-ID: <571A70CB.507@deskhenge.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

My name is Jane Sargent, and I am not at all a bulb expert. I have two
gardens, one in zone 5 Massachusetts and one in southern Mexico, at
least zone 10 and akaline. I am hoping to find contact information for
good plant sources in Mexico, because sending plants from here involves
all kinds of paperwork. I want these plants for my Mexican garden, not
my Massachusetts one. Any help would be appreciated.
My second question concerns 3 Albuca spiralis plants growing on the
windowsill in Massachusetts. They flowered, and afterwards, to my
amazement, began sending up lots of new little twisty tentacles instead
of going dormant. They are beginning to look like the spawn of
Chthulhu. Do I continue to water them? Fertilize them, and if so, with
what? Does anyone know what pollinates their flowers in nature? And will
they go dormant sometime?
Clueless,
Jane

------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2016 20:54:40 -0600
From: Monica Swartz <eciton@utexas.edu>
To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [pbs] Mexico and Albuca
Message-ID: <p06240806d3408f401f1d@[192.168.0.4]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

Hi Jane, that doesn't sound like Albuca spiralis which flower when
the leaves are dying down. It could be A. hallii which flowers before
the leaves start. However, A. hallii is very early for a winter
Albuca, blooming for me in early October here in the N. Hemisphere,
and is one of the first to sleep (mine went dormant 3 weeks ago).
When did your plants get their first water of the season? Maybe they
are confused about where they are, did you import them? Are the
leaves slightly hairy/downy (spiralis)? If it is A. hallii, NO
fertilizer and very good drainage is necessary (pure pumice or
equivalent) and as much sun as you can give them. The leaves spiral
tighter in more sun. A. hallii doesn't like to freeze, mine are
protected on frozen nights, but go down to freezing nearly every
night for part of the winter. A. spiralis is more forgiving both with
temperature and drainage. Both go dormant once temperatures reach the
80s.
Of course, you may have one of the summer-growing species instead.
The only one I grow that has flowers before the leaves is A. crispa,
but it usually only puts out one leaf at a time, not the octopus arms
you described (A. hallii is like that). I'm worried about your plants
as A. hallii is difficult at the best of times. Let us know more
about the flowers. monica

------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2016 02:37:06 +0000
From: Talley Ho <talleyho69@hotmail.com>
To: "pbs@lists.ibiblio.org" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [pbs] Mexico and Albuca
Message-ID:
<BLUPR18MB0227937EBF6BE53963E4F7ABCE600@BLUPR18MB0227.namprd18.prod.outlook.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi Jane. This will be my first post though I have been a PBS member for several years. Your message spoke to me as I too have a US home as well as a winter home in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mex. We have found that a number of bulbs grow quite well there, the best being several species of Hymenocallis and the same for Hippeastrum. As sources go, we have always relied on our local viveros who are extremely knowledgeable and happy to talk to and supply those with a rather intense interest in botanizing. Especially around Xmas are more things available of interest. Most commercial items are coming down from Cuernavaca. I would also check Mercado Libre (Central American equivalent of ebay) on the internet. We have used it successfully, though not for plant materials, a few times.

Can't answer your question about A. spiralis--perhaps someone else...

Good luck with the search for good plant material and feel free to PM me. Cheers, Ray

------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2016 20:13:31 -0700
From: Travis O <enoster@hotmail.com>
To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [pbs] Mexico and Albuca
Message-ID: <COL403-EAS245F565E7A32A664D2B52B1BB600@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

Albuca appears to be pollinated by bees:

http://m.aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/…

Travis Owen
Rogue River, OR

http://www.amateuranthecologist.com/
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/

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