CULT: Pale leaves on Setosa

From: Daryl/Kathy Haggstrom <hagg@alaska.net>

Mark -

This is sort of a follow-up on a recommendation you gave me regarding
one I. setosa which produced very pale leaves this year. I had inquired
whether it might be a iron deficiency, and you had suggested I also
consider a nitrogen deficiency.

I flew a horticulturalist friend out to my homestead to look at it, and
he tested the soil for nitrogen. An iron test wasn't done, as I'd
already applied an iron therapy. His conclusion: it was an inherent
metabolism problem in the plant. All surrounding plants and soils were
normal. He thought there was a chance it could be inherited by
offspring, so considered it best not to hybridize with it. He said that
while the pale leaves might be desirable for a novelty plant, it would
give the plant inherent weaknesses.

I've decided against using this plant for any hybridizing, and had to
end up getting rid of all the immature seed pods on it and the rest of
the plants in that patch because I'm never confident about the integrity
of crosses - setosas seem to self pollinate (or insect pollinate) so
easily. Though I had crossed it with only 4 other plants I couldn't be
certain it didn't do a little extra-curricular activity on its own.

Thanks for your input, as the horticulturalist definitely wanted to
perform a nitrogen test before passing judgment.

Regards,
Kathy Haggstrom
Anchorage, Alaska(Zone 3)
hagg@alaska.net


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