Eucomis pole -evansii is flowering ( outside )

[Hans J]

Hi all ,

In 2009, a contact of me has sowing seeds of Eucomis pole evansii - in 2010 I got some small seedlings of them. These grew quite quickly ... after I had seen in the nursery Hügin (about 40 km) these plants very well free plant beds I have also tried this ... in the spring the plants always began to grow late ... but they survived the winters always without problems.

This year, for the first time, I was able to see buds on the plants ... .the flowers grew higher and are now 1.10 m (measured at the top)

As you can see on the last picture are always numerous insects on the flowers ... so I also hope for seeds

I can only guess from my experience this Eucomis species planted (where it is climatically possible) ... because with E.pole -evansii I had never flowers when I planted them in pots.

Have fun
Hans

[Maggi Young]

   That is a success, Hans!

[Hans J]

Thanks Maggi

[Alberto]

Hi Hans, fine to know they grow outside where you live, colder than where I live, so I have to try! My bulbs in pot, large pot, are growing and flowering very well, clumping more and more every year.
Ciao
Alberto

[Hans J]

Thats is interesting Alberto that you can grow this plants in a pot and they flower well
So ...maybe my pot was too small or your climate is better or you have a better place in winter ...

Ciao
Hans

[ArnoldT]

Alberto:

How large is the pot.  I have them in a 15 inch pot and still no flowers like Hans.

[Paul Cumbleton]

We also grow Eucomis pole-evansii in pots. We have two clones, one the usual commercial form as sold by the Dutch bulb trade and the other is a form grown from wild collected seed. The first is currently in a rather small pot for the size of plant - 20cm diameter by 21cm deep. It currently has two open flower spikes. The other form (currently with 4 spikes but flowers not yet open) is in a pot 28cm diameter by 28cm deep. We also grow the purple-leaved form E. pole-evansii 'Purpurea' in pot and this too is in flower (pot is 32cm diameter by 28cm deep). As you can see, we have no problem flowering them in pots, even relatively small ones, and they flower reliably every year. So I am not sure that pot size is the main issue. We grow them outside in summer but put them under the bench when dormant in a just frost-free glasshouse for the winter. We give them LOTS of water in growth - they love moisture (we grow E. bicolor and actually stand this in a saucer of water all summer). We feed them haphazardly - in other words when one of us remembers!

Others of interest looking good at the moment are 'Joy's Purple' and also a hybrid I made myself between E. 'Leia' and E. schijffii which has rather nice soft pink flowers, flowering for the first time.

Pictures of all of these below. All in pots.

Paul

[Hans J]

Hi Paul ,

thank you for your informations
It is very impressiv how good look your Eucomis
...maybe my pots was really too small...

Just some questions :
What kind of mix do use  for your Eucomis ? ( please write how many organic + how many mineralic in % ) ...I cannot buy here John Innes mixes ..
How many ppm has your fertilizer for this plants
Do you  repot each year ?

Hans

[Paul Cumbleton]

Hi Hans
We grow our Eucomis in a mix of 2 parts loam (soil), 1 part peat and 1 part grit. We use fertiliser high in potash (K) but do not have a particular brand that we use - just whatever we have in stock at the time. We apply this at full strength, whatever the packet says. For a typical high potash fertiliser this would result in a ppm of between 1200 and 1500 (for the total fertiliser). Unlike many other bulbs, we do not repot Eucomis every year - we tend to leave them until the bulbs have multiplied to completely fill the pot. Sometimes if we leave it too long they stretch the pot out of shape and can be difficult to remove!

Like many other plants, it can be rewarding to grow them from seed as you get variation and can select the best. For example,we find that the commercial Dutch form of E. pole-evansii has rather thin leaves that tend to flop over on to the ground as summer goes on and so they look untidy and easily get damaged. The form we grew from seed has thicker leaves that always stay standing upright in that lovely vase shape which we think makes the plant look so much more attractive. A few years ago I grew Eucomis vandermerwei from wild collected seed. The seedlings varied a lot, especially in the amount of spotting on the leaf. One form I selected out has so many spots that the leaf looks almost entirely dark purple with just small areas of green showing. The flower is also darker. It is far nicer than the rather average cultivar 'Octopus' that is sold everywhere over here in garden centres. I think it is so good I decided to name it and have called it Eucomis vandermerwei 'Purple Pixie'. Another seedling has fewer than average spots on a bright green leaf - quite a contrast to Purple Pixie but also nice in its own way. Picture of these two side by side is below.

Paul

[Hans J]

Hi Paul ,

Many thanks for your good cultural informations

"Loam" is always a problem to get for me ( in my area ) ...I use peat based gardening soil ( p.e. TKS2 )

The part "Peat" I could replace with  Rhododendron soil ( no problem to get here )

"Gritt" is also no problem

Do you think your soil "receipt" suits also for Agapanthus ?

It seems I have to use a higher part of my fertilizer ( Phostrogen ) ...I take 10 gr. per 10 Liter ...so I receive 670 ppm -maybe I should take 20 gr.

I have also several liquid fertilizers ...I must look

Yes - good to know that Eucomis not must every repottet

I agree with you 100% ...growing plants from seeds really makes more fun ...and is better for variability .

Hans

[Maggi Young]

Your Eucomis seedlings are very cute, Paul!

[brianw]

Mine has a couple of weeks to go before it opens. In the ground for 2 years now. Seems happy.
Chopped up one of its leaves today, (and a purple hybrid?). Thought it was about time I tried leaf cuttings again. Worked fine last time I tried. Probably won't now I have posted this.

[Chris Johnson]

Eucomis pole evansii grows well up here in the windy north-west. These are outside, in a wind protected area, in large clay pots (last year's flowering). It also grows equally well in our large polytunnel in clay pots. Repotting is a pit ad hoc put about every three years. I would suggest every second year if in smaller pots.

[Paul Cumbleton]

Hans,
You asked about Agapanthus - I don't grow them, but the holders of one of the National Collections of Agapanthus here in the UK give this advice about growing in pots:

 "Growing in pots – Evergreen cultivars are especially suited to being grown in pots, allowing them to be brought into a conservatory or greenhouse for the winter. Use a loam based compost like John Innes No3 with slow release Miracle Grow granules added for long term feed. Liquid feed with Miracle Grow All Purpose Feed or Phostrogen during the growing season.  Overcrowded plants should be re-potted in spring.

Feeding – ...Agapanthus are quite hungry feeders so liquid feeding plants in containers with Miracle-Gro liquid feed or Phostrogen during the growing season is important. A sprinkle of Sulphate of potash can also encourage flower quantity and colour, however Tomorite is a better value option since it is high in Potash. Avoid giving plants too much Nitrogen or you will encourage lush leaves at the expense of flowers."

You can read more on their website: http://fairweathers.co.uk/agapanthus-information/

Hope this helps
Paul

[Hans J]

Hi Paul ,

Many thanks for your time with searching informations for me ..
OK- I will they repot in next spring in bigger pots
With the fertilizer seems I'm right ( I use Postrogen )

I will look more in this Apapanthus informations - looks interesting !

Hans