Worsleya, paramongaia, etc...

[Alberto]

Hi all,
Worsleya is not difficult to grow from seed. In the Worsleya group I was able to have seeds for $2 each and viability is almost 100% in a few clones, in others much less. But after one growing season the larger seedlings are about 1,5 cm. I tried different mix and finally I have the more realiable for me and my climate. My larger bulb I bought a few years ago, now is growing very strong and I hope to see it blooming shortly.

Alberto
 

[Michael]

Alberto do you have any pictures of your plants? I would like to see how you grow them.
Michael

[Rogan]

One for the Worsleya aficionados: at what age can the first flowers of seedling Worsleya procera be expected? My plants are now 3 1/2 years old and are growing into fairly substantial specimens - the brown scaly part is approximately 30 cm in length. I can't hold my breath for ever...   

[Maggi Young]

Rogan.... it seems you must hold your breath a little longer..... 6 and a half years, we've been told for Europe... you may speed up the race by a year!!

We have a thread about the matter...


I'll merge this.....

[Rogan]

Thanks Maggi, I can see clearly now...   

[Rogan]

I have been talking to my Worsleyas very nicely this year, but still no flowers. They are now 4 years 10 months from seed (top of pot is 25 cm in diameter) - perhaps next year?   

I got very excited in 2010 when my Pamianthe peruviana plant flowered for the first time; it was also sown at the same time as the Worsleya - this is the year, I thought!

Any more Worsleya news out there?

[rob krejzl]

This opened this morning. Grown in unglazed terracotta, with a growing medium largely composed of scoria (with a little pea gravel and decomposed orchid compost).

[fermi de Sousa]

Well done, Rob!
You must be in the banana belt down there!
cheers
fermi

[George-Oz]

Fantastic rob, I wish I had a blue hippie like that.

what other bulbs do you grow?

Hi Fermi, what do you grow?

[Maggi Young]

This opened this morning. Grown in unglazed terracotta, with a growing medium largely composed of scoria (with a little pea gravel and decomposed orchid compost).

Rob, I know the Worsleya growers will be green with envy for your flower and that super foliage.

[rob krejzl]

I know the Worsleya growers will be green with envy for your flower and that super foliage.

I owe it all to Dynamic Lifter  .

George - I mostly try to grow cool-climate stuff like lilies. This is an aberration, a gift from someone. Fortunately it is robust and can take a good deal of neglect.

[Maggi Young]

I know the Worsleya growers will be green with envy for your flower and that super foliage.

I owe it all to Dynamic Lifter  .

George - I mostly try to grow cool-climate stuff like lilies. This is an aberration, a gift from someone. Fortunately it is robust and can take a good deal of neglect.

As to the Dynamic Lifter- I couldn't possibly comment (I am wondering whether it's for you or the plant?? )

Now the Worsleya lovers are not only green they've all fainted with you suggestion that the planty is robust....... I thought it was the sound of another earthquake, but it was them hitting the ground! 

[rob krejzl]

Maggi,

When I recently bought some Disa from a local, I asked whether he had any slipper orchids. He said no, he only grew easy stuff. Worsleya is like Disa, easy. All it needs is good drainage and good light (and, in my case, not to be frozen to mush). It doesn't need to be watered every day, or even every week and responds well to fertiliser. Surely not earth-shattering news.

[Alex]

My dad grows Worsleya in a warm greenhouse in the UK. They do well, and he flowered it this year - it was a good 3 feet tall and much more robust than Rogan's plant. I think it was about 5 or 6 years post acquisition as an offset. HTH with the question of how big it needs to be to flower - in short, really quite big I think!

Cheers,

Alex

[Maggi Young]

I suppose it will be a comfort that some folks find it straightforward..... makes you wonder why, then, it is so rare and expensive?  (Where have I heard that question before??!!)