REB: genetics/environment
iris@hort.net
  • Subject: REB: genetics/environment
  • From: L* M* <l*@lock-net.com>
  • Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2011 06:50:22 -0400
Seedling blooming today - ((IMM x CSONG) x TWILIGHT FANCIES)) X MATRIX. No question that the 'summer' bloom genes 'should' be there, but thought I'd share the plant behavior.
Maiden bloom was last fall, late (because we never had fall, went straight from hot summer to winter), dug the fan and brought it indoors to bloom, but it had been frozen a few times before I dug it and the stalk aborted. The pot went back outdoors during winter (i.e., vernalized).
The rest of the clump that was left in the field bloomed this spring, about EM. It now has another stalk, miserably stressed by heat and drought. No supplemental water (too far for the hose to reach).
The increase in the pot from the fan dug last fall did <not> bloom this spring. It is being fed and watered heavily with cold spring water, has not put on more increase (still just two fans), is lush and luxuriant, picture of health, no sign of bloom. yet?
I don't know what to make of this. The only thing I can think of is that 6 (or whenever the bloom stalk was triggered) weeks ago, the plant in the field maybe stayed just enough cooler than the one in the pot to trigger bloom? The fans in the pot are certainly older (=more mature?) than the one in the field.
Betty, I really like your new FB definition of rebloom. In this case, it's blooming-more-often-than-anything-other-than-BELVI QUEEN. It's not that great a bloom, but has some keeper traits, esp this one. 

Linda Mann east TN USA zone 7

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