South African bulbose plants 2009

[BULBISSIME]

Miriam, The Romulea is stuning !
What a clump ! I have some seedlings of species with big flowers and this one seems to have enormous ones 

[Ezeiza]

Right now, seed of Rr. monadelpha, sabulosa and unifolia, the three with huge stunning flowers, is available from a well known commercial source in South Africa.

[Miriam]

Thanks.

Rogan, you have such beautiful plants in SA!

A photo from yesterday before the hailstorm came today morning:

[Hristo]

Miriam,
Cracking plants, hope the hail wasn't too unknid to them, I have these growing from seed, how long did yours take to reach flowering size?

[cohan]

hi all,
i have seed of Massonia jasminiflora, which i started under lights, more or less warm, around 14hrs day; i had meant to move to a shorter day light set up after germination, as i think these should be wintergrowing? BUT  havent been able to get those lights set up yet; the seedlings seem fine since dec 31;
my question is, if i get the shorter day lights going now, should i move the seedlings, or leave them where they are? i dont want to trigger dormancy so soon...
any other thoughts on ongoing cultivation?
these plants are going to be indoors full time, at least for the forseeable future, until.unless i get some greenhouses going..
we are still very much in winter here, though days are already getting longer, fast, we are now at almost 11 hours sunshine, from below 8 in midwinter; midsummer will be 16 or more hours..

i also have unnamed rhadamanthus seedlings (from penrock) also healthy though moving very slowly since late fall germination; should i keep these more or less moist for the first year?

[Miriam]

Hristo,
I have recieved the Daubenya aurea just last autumn as mature bulbs already in flowering size.
I have no experience growing this species from seeds.

[Ezeiza]

Hristo, they flower during its third season of growth. Summer dormant. In the wild it receives many slight frosts in winter when the plant is in full growth, at times even some snow.

It seems to like slightly cooler than the temperatures other Cape plants like Geissorhizas, Babiana, etc. enjoy

[Lesley Cox]

Does anypne know or grow Massonia hererodonta? I've had seedlings for maybe 5 or 6 years and though they are growing ever-so-slightly each year, they still look small enough to be some way from flowering size. The leaves are quite dark green and have small pustules on them, like Lachenlia pustulata. Surprizingly, it seems to be entirely hardy, even quite strong frosts never bothering it.

[Hristo]

Miriam, Ezeiza many thanks for your replies, I will hope for fowers in 2011 

[Ezeiza]

Dear Lesley:

                 Massonia heterandra (Now Massonia pygmaea). It is normally a tiny miniature. Most of these plants like frost free during growth and hot in summer. If they are grown too cool they will take forever to reach flowering size. 

Alberto

[BULBISSIME]

Miriam,
another wonderfull pic and plant !
How do you grow it ? I've this species since 3 years and never seen a flower : always aborted 

[BULBISSIME]

Just flowering now Lachenalia liliflora



and Lachenalia juncifolia



This is really not my favorite genus, but smell's good !

[Ezeiza]

This is botanical photography at the utmost.

Every single detail is visible to identifiy a Lachenalia.

Just wondering if a collection of images of such quality would ever be available

[Hristo]

Ezeiza,
Yes it does exist, though published in 1988 it is missing some of the newer species.
The book is;
The Lachenalia Handbook by G.D.Duncan which is Volume 17 from the Annals of Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens, ISBN 0620119535 printed by CTP Book Printers, Cape.
Not sure where you will find it though my copy came from Oakdene Nursery, Barnsley, UK.

[Hristo]

The latest flowerer in the plant room, Albuca nelsonii, charmingly known as Nelson's Slime Lily! If you ever damage a leaf you soon find out the name is well deserved! South African forumists just wondering if this plant has any medicinal / other practical use?