Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Specific Families and Genera => Amaryllidaceae => Topic started by: Paul Cumbleton on June 25, 2017, 05:27:23 PM
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Gethyllis verticillata has been flowering this week, with several other species also showing buds. G. verticillata flowers are quite large - these are 9 cm diameter (3.5 inches). They have a strong scent that I would describe as interesting (but not unpleasant) rather than sweet.
Paul
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Lovely to see Paul 8). Presumably these are seed-grown. Do they require any special management in this part of the world beyond sharp drainage and a summer baking?
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Very nice Paul!
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Hi Ashley,
I got these particular plants as young seedlings (2 years old) from Gordon Summerfield, though have raised new plants myself from seed off of these plants.
I've grown various Gethyllis species for 12 years now and I don't find they need any particularly special treatment - as you say, sharp drainage is a must and a warm, completely dry summer. When in growth, I water them rather as if they were cacti - give them a good soak but then let them dry out between waterings. Mind you, don't leave them too dry for too long between waterings as they will visibly wilt. They are in deep clay pots plunged in a sand plunge bed. As you can probably make out in the photo, I don't plunge their pots right up to the rims but rather let them stick out a few inches which I think helps the pots dry out a little quicker after watering. Though the flowers are rather fleeting they are wonderful while out and many species have attractive, ornamental or interesting leaves which give pleasure for the rest of the growing season.
Paul
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Thank you for this detail Paul. I must try for seed, having also admired Steve's recent photos on the SA geophytes thread (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=15030.msg378110#msg378110).
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Blooming 2 days ago.
Lasted about 24hrs.
In a large fish box of pumice in shade.
I think summer backing is a relative term.
In Our hot summers shade seems to work fine.
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Paul - you do like a challenge don't you. I would have thought our climate better suited to growing these in Southern Australia but it's a battle here! Treating them like cacti is the key though.