Rhodophiala - Summer 2011

[bulborum]

What I understand from Alberto
they need to be planted very deep

Roland

[Hans J]

Hi Angie ,

I use for my mature Rhodophiala pots for roses ( 12 x 12 x 20 cm )

http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://www.kakteen-schwarz.de/content/shop/temp_pics/251.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.kakteen-schwarz.de/content/shop/products/products_detail.php%3Ftype%3Dbehaelter%26id%3D251&usg=__sL2ee0juVjRbV3i-tYhu1Ywhwjk=&h=139&w=180&sz=10&hl=de&start=1&zoom=1&tbnid=1KFZEZYoBt8cRM:&tbnh=78&tbnw=101&ei=xeBEToWgAoil-gbxsPD-Bg&prev=/search%3Fq%3DTiefe%2BKunststofft%25C3%25B6pfe,%2Bvierkant,%2B12x12x20%2Bcm%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dde%26sa%3DN%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1

Please look here

Hans

[angie]

Thanks, just wasn't sure about that long neck on the bulb. I have some of those Rose pots , so will go and use them . Hope I can get it to flower one day and be able to show off my wonderful flower 

Angie

[johnw]

Angie - re: necks of the bulbs

The seeds were planted deep in the pots (2" deep plastic), larger quantities in 4" deep plastic pots.  This (the depth) was on the recommendation of Alberto and Ian.  Still a bit of the necks have appeared just above soil level.  I leave Rhodphiala seedlings undisturbed for 3 years or longer before transplanting as they seem to resent it, this may not be wise as the mix can get rather soupy.  I use Deroma clay 5" long toms for the older bulbs and pack a lot of bulbs in the pots.

johnw

[angie]

Thanks John. I wish I liked just one species. Life would be a lot easier for me. I blame this forum, it's like holding a bag of sweeties in front of a kid.  I want it all 

Angie

[santo2010]

Hi John

I read that you left the neck of the bulb above the soil. I have received a couple of bulbs and the neck is very long. I wasn't sure how to deep to plant the bulb. I will need a really deep pot if I have to cover the neck. Any advice would be appreciated.

Angie

I think that the better way, more similar to what is in nature, is to cover all the neck. Besides Rhodophiala seem to digg themselves down all life. The biggest bulbs might reach 80 cm. down. They are also the ones with the stronger scapes and more flowers. Some where I read that there is a relation between deep and flowering. I don't know if it is true, or if it is only age/flowering, but I would plant them minimun covering all the neck.
Hope it helps and soon flowering to you,
Santo

[angie]

Hi John

I read that you left the neck of the bulb above the soil. I have received a couple of bulbs and the neck is very long. I wasn't sure how to deep to plant the bulb. I will need a really deep pot if I have to cover the neck. Any advice would be appreciated.

Angie

I think that the better way, more similar to what is in nature, is to cover all the neck. Besides Rhodophiala seem to digg themselves down all life. The biggest bulbs might reach 80 cm. down. They are also the ones with the stronger scapes and more flowers. Some where I read that there is a relation between deep and flowering. I don't know if it is true, or if it is only age/flowering, but I would plant them minimun covering all the neck.
Hope it helps and soon flowering to you,
Santo

Repotted them so let's hope I get them to grow. Thanks for all your advice.

Angie

[johnw]

Hi John - I read that you left the neck of the bulb above the soil. Angie

Let me clarify, the Rhodophiala species with necks appearing above the soil line were untransplanted seedlings in the original pot.  I usually grow the seedling on for 3 years before the first transplant. Then when I move the seedlings into long toms they will certainly be planted deep with the necks well down and lots of grit over the necks.  It is amazing how large the bulbs compared to the paucity of leaves - bulbs and necks very long and slender.  I pack the pots full to avoid over-watering.  35cm deep pots would be ideal but who has the room for a dozen of them?

johnw

[Ezeiza]

John, while they are in the process of growing up they do not need individual pots. Once you find a pot deep enough you can plant all seedlings together in it.

The long neck as Santo mentions is very important for the plant to have the scape upright all through the process of flowering and seed setting. It is evident in the case of the larger Hippestrums where the inflorescences are surprisingly massive and heavy and must be displayed high above the surrounding vegetation.

[johnw]

John, while they are in the process of growing up they do not need individual pots. Once you find a pot deep enough you can plant all seedlings together in it.

 

Alberto -  I do plant all the seedlings together as I simply do not have the space to separate the bulbs and place in individual pots.  I never thought of the tall inflorescences overtaking surrounding vegetation!  What is the normal pollinator of the Rhodophialas? 

johnw

[johnw]

Here is my most pathetic Rhodophiala advena from NARGS seed. It has now changed from a dirty washed-out plum with green to a dirty pink with a bit of peach and white.  I had hoped for a nice tomato red like Hans'.

Have crossed it onto R. araucana (salmon).  I would have preferred to use pollen of a better form but I'd no choice in these matters as pollen is so rare.

johnw

[Ezeiza]

John:

        John, it is the true Rhodophiala advena in its more common pale salmon form. Not one of the species to faint at but nice anyway and certainly not as fussy as others.

        Is it plum color in England the purplish beetroot one or am I missing something?

[johnw]

John:        John, it is the true Rhodophiala advena in its more common pale salmon form. Not one of the species to faint at but nice anyway and certainly not as fussy as others. Is it plum color in England the purplish beetroot one or am I missing something?

Alberto -  Thanks for the i.d.  At least the name is correct!  I'm not the best one to describe any colour, plum - or at least washed-out plum -  to me is lavender mixed with a bit of purple or the other way round.  Others?

johnw

[JoshY46013]

John,

   I would considering it to be a light salmon color, it's still very beautiful to me!

[johnw]

John,   I would considering it to be a light salmon color, it's still very beautiful to me!

JoshY46013 - The colour has certainly improved somewhat in the last few days though the photo is flattering.  The colour I was trying to describe was its colour when it first opened, it was quite a nasty colour.

johnw