Re: CULT:JI Heat

From: "John Lyall" <jlyall@unitec.ac.nz>

From:           	"Mark Cook" <billc@atlantic.net>
To:             	<iris-talk@onelist.com>
Date sent:      	Tue, 22 Jun 1999 12:50:05 +1200
Send reply to:  	iris-talk@onelist.com
Subject:        	Re: [iris-talk] CULT:JI Heat

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From: "Mark Cook" <billc@atlantic.net>



  You wrote  ' I did not think it got that hot in Auckland.  '

Well........
Auckland is in theory about 27 degrees C. summer max. but I have 
moved from a South facing, [ towards the pole, no sun] clay slope to 
a north facining sunken sun trap.
Also the new garden is soft almost fluffy volcanic soil with a high 
peat content, [ old swamp]. ie very dark colour and dry, warms up 
fast, and dries out fast.
The south facing clay on the other hand was cold but high in 
nutrients for the JI's. The clay was also very good to make ponds in, 
wall stability, ability to support the weight of the water.

So... this last summer some days unusually hot 30 degrees C. in my 
microclimate and dry; a three month drought, [Auckland is usually 
fairly wet and humid.

I think also that the lack of a cold winter is a factor in my JI 
performance. 13 degrees C. [max.] is a cold day. overnight 
minimums about 0  on only very few days during  a few weeks [ July 
August really]. More usually minimums of 5 to 8 degrees C.
More cold would certainly induce longer dormancy. It is past the 
shortest day and about 10% of my JI's still have some very green 
leaves. I have one very slowly evolving[ and stunted] flower spike at 
the moment June23!

So the solution has been more shade and deeper water to beat the 
heat. And the dessicating by the wind, [up to 40mm loss per pond 
in a day.]

One problem of my new underwater habitat is soil structure.
I now use palm peat, which is coconut fibre as well as peat, sand, 
and sieved garden soil in the pots. this still has good structure after 
two years underwater.  

john Lyall




billc@atlantic.net
Dunnellon, Florida.


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