Massonia culture

Kenneth Preteroti via pbs pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net
Fri, 19 Nov 2021 16:47:36 PST


I have been enjoying the recent discussion on the genus Massonia. I have a number species and wondered if I could grow them better and reduce losses. When looking at the PBS site and other growers sites I found a lack of specific cultural information. Such as the potting mix, fertilizer type, frequency and when to use. Pot type could be a function of where you live and environmental conditions ie humidity . Also could the growing culture be the same for Massonia’s cousins in the Hyacinthaceae family Daubenya, Polyxena and Lachenalia? 

My mix is my cacti/succulent mix. 50% grit (pumice, turface, granite Diatomite) and 50% ProMix (HPCC with mycorrhizae peat/coir based). I am using mostly plastic pots. I fertilize monthly using a 20:10:20 peat-lite with minors formula slightly diluted. Once my winter growing plants break dormancy I place them outside and bring them in the greenhouse before a hard frost. All winter growers not just Massonia. They get a good 6 weeks of outdoor life with cool nights and warm days in full sun. They get fertilized at least once and watered a couple times. Our late summer and early fall there is plenty of rain. 

My losses aren’t immediately noticeable. They appear to go dormant healthy but I sometimes find a sinkhole in my pot in the summer as the bulb rotted. Did I overwater and especially near their summer dormancy? Is the mix not gritty enough? Should I move away from 50/50 and go to 75/25 or 90/10? Am I over fertilizing? Maybe just once or twice in the beginning of the growing season. 




Ken P 
New Jersey, USA
Zone 7 (6b)

“If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” George Orwell


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