OT-PLANTS:Tigridia pavonia

>I have been growing Tigridia pavonia from seed in a greenhouse.
>I've had great success in germination and transplantation, but growing
>out has been difficult.  I've read that they need ample water, which
>I have been providing.  All of my batches of seedlings look horrible.
>They seem to have a little damage from spidermites, which have since
>been treated.  Also the leaves are yellowing, with brown tips.  They
>seem to be dying back as well.  Are these problems with watering?
>Fertilization?  Are they supposed to dye back?  If so at any
>particular stage in their young lives?  Please help!

Tigridias are generally easy from seed but do best if started in the
spring, then moved outdoors when the weather warms up.  If you are in the
far north (you don't say where you are located) even a greenhouse can have
low light levels this time of year, and that could trigger dormancy.
However, because the leaves are browning at the tips, this does not sound
like a dormant period coming on.  I suspect overwatering--Tigridia need
very good drainage.  Also, the mites may have done more damage than you
think; Tigridia and its relatives are very susceptable to mites.  Another
possibility is that the mite spray (if indeed you used a miticide) was too
strong or was not appropriate for these plants.

Watch your plants carefully for signs of recovery--the production of new
leaves from the base of the fan.  If nothing happens, tip one or two out of
the pots and see if you have little corms.  If you can't find any and they
seem to have rotted then the plants are goners.  Buy some more seed and
start over.  Tigridia seeds are not hard to find and are not expensive.

Tigridias are Z7 hardy, at least, and some have grown them in Z5 with
protection.  My experience in growing them from seed was a good one--they
all bloomed the first year, like annuals.  In subsequent years it would
seem that they need to be lifted and divided almost annually or they go all
to foliage and bloom becomes sparse.  One drawback--the flowers are
Japanese Beetle magnets.


Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<wshear@email.hsc.edu>
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