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Re: [SANS] West Indian Growing Conditions

On 01/07/98 8:54 PM George de Verteuil wrote:

>I know that I am not unique to this group as William Glover in Nevis
>(for half the year anyway!) experiences roughly the same climatic
>conditions.  We have 70 to low 90 deg F all the year round and often
>very dry conditions for long spells.  I have never, repeat never, seen a
>Sans succumb to lack of water over weeks and months.

I have to temper George de Verteuil's observations a mite with respect to
growing conditions on a much smaller island a few hundred miles north of
Trinidad.

Have never lost a sansevieria (or other succulent for that matter, and I
have some 700 growing out-of-doors in the ground) because of drought, but
then I have never known a spell of more than two weeks at Nevis without
some rain, albeit just a few drops. The temperature range here is 75-94F,
and the relative humidity averages 75% the year round. In my part of
Nevis the average annual rainfall is 50 inches (1250mm). There are a few
sans bursting out of pots around the house that get watered only when
someone remembers to do so once a month or so.

On the other hand, have lost many succulents growing in very well-drained
beds after periods of heavy rains. But again, have never lost a sans in
the ground from too much rain, even after hurricanes that dropped 11
inches of rain (most of which was salty sea water) in a day.  Have some
sans growing wild in a patch of the lawn that are repeatedly mowed over
but steadfastly refuse to die, and in fact the patch is growing because
of the rhizome growth underground.

Sans hybrids are common roadside weeds in the West Indies and easily
survive rain, drought, hurricanes, goats, donkeys, careless drivers, road
repair crews, etc..

In Kenya, native sans spp. endure very prolonged droughts lasting months
at a time.

Warm regards,

William Glover

**********************

William Glover
NEVIS, West Indies

wmglover@caribsurf.com
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