Tecophilaea !!!

[Mark Griffiths]

Just the "type" form out properly so far.

 

[maggiepie]

They are beautiful, another new plant to me.
 

[BULBISSIME]

Wonderfull display Mark !!
How many bulbs are in this pot ?? 

[Mark Griffiths]

Probably over 100. I am really pushed for space so I have to have them in several layers. I have about the same amount or more of the paler varity and less of violacea. These were built up from single bulbs in the early 90s.

Problem with violacea is that a few years back a type form snuck into the violacea pot and multiplied. I then split the violacea pot into several in the hope of being able to get pure pots that I could then recombine but it all takes more space. The colour doesn't come out too well in pictures (see below)

A few years back I started to let them set seed and have been sending it to the AGS. After years of sowing one or two capsules of my own seed and nothing coming up I've now got a couple of potfuls of seedlings.

 

[Anthony Darby]

Where are you Mark? Mine are not even in bud yet.

[Mark Griffiths]

hi, I'm in Oxford, I didn't realise until now putting Oxford in my profile doesn't show up..you have to put it in a signature.

[Lesley Cox]

Problem with violacea is that a few years back a type form snuck into the violacea pot and multiplied. 

I feel for you Mark. Terrible problem to have.

[Mark Griffiths]

Yes I know, boo hoo. I'll be interested to see if the seedlings turn out to be true or whether they cross poliinated.

[Michael]

Impressive colour.

Mine were all killed this year by mice

[Alessandro.marinello]

this is the variety leichtlinii

[Pete Clarke]

Superb Mark. Perhaps you could tell us all your recipe for such success. I am sure many others apart from myself would love to know. I have grown many batches from seed & ended up with a few small bulbs which never bulk up or flower. I have tried all types of composts, pots & overwintering sites. I am similarly struggling with Conantheras.

[Mark Griffiths]

It's hard to tell. I don't really have the same success with other bulbs, I have single bulb Frits for 15 years that have never divided, my Narcissus dwindle usually etc etc.

I pot them in Aug every year, John Innes 3 plus grit, I pot them quite deep, I keep them damp at all times. I don't feed. I allow them to dry off a bit over summer. The greenhouse is frost free. I think that's more or less it. And they had suffered a lot of neglect over the years.

[Otto Fauser]

this is the variety leichtlinii

Alessandro , your T. c. var. leichtlinii must be a seedling , as it has a lot more white than the original v. leichtlinii , which has been around since Max Leichtlin's days-so more than a
hundred years .

[Michael]

And they had suffered a lot of neglect over the years.

Probably that's the best thing you can ever do Mark, even though it is difficult to neglect sometimes!

[Eric Locke]

Talking of Tecophilaea seedlings - I have included a photo of "Storm Cloud" which was a seedling cross raised by Kath Dryden . Another of Kath"s seedlings crosses is "Cumulus" which has now gone over so I could not include a photo of this.
I find all Tecophilaea easy but rather slow.
I grow these in 50% standard type alpine mix + 50% Leafmould and grow year round in a frost-free greenhouse.

Eric