OT: Cape Bulbs in Pots
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: OT: Cape Bulbs in Pots
- From: B* S* <B*@hsc.edu>
- Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 08:05:29 -0700 (MST)
Sorry for going Off Topic, but since some iris relatives are involved, I
thought this might be of interest to some listers.
The past several years, I've been growing some Cape bulbs in pots during
the winter and really enjoying their brilliant flowers. It's relatively
easy if you have a sunny window, especially one that gets rather cool at
night.
Ferraria crispa is a very easy irid with exotic green and brown flowers
produced on 12-18 inch spikes over a very long period. Last summer I gave
some of these away to iris-l folk and would like to hear how they are
doing. My largest plant now has a bloom spike emerging.
Hybrid Freesias are readily available in the fall from Dutch bulb dealers.
Taking longer to bloom than Ferraria, they come in many bright colors and
are incredibly fragrant. Anyone with a bright window, greenhouse or sun
room who doesn't grow a few pots of these is really missing something. The
bulbs are relatively inexpensive and so could even be discarded after
blooming, though they are so easy to bring on and reproduce so fast this
would seem a shame. They're also irids.
Moraea aristata (another irid) is a charming miniature with flowers like a
one-inch Japanese iris in rich violet and yellow. Up to a dozen bulbs can
easily be grown in a 4 inch pot.
Various species of Lachenalia are members of the lily family (or amaryllis
family--I've lost track of the changes in this group of plants) that
produce hyacinth-like spikes of tiny blooms in strange color
combinations--like red, green and blue, all in the same flower. The ones I
grow multiply at a furious rate. Because the flowering stems tend to be
long and a bit drooping if you don't supply extremely bright light, they
look good in hanging baskets.
All of these enjoy being potted up in a well-drained mix, and given some
Osmocote once they are well up. Another helping of Osmocote after blooming
makes sure large bulbs or corms mature. When the foliage begins to yellow
in spring, dry them off completely and put them somewhere protected until
next September or October. Then remove the bulbs and repot in fresh soil
mix. Allow to dry slightly between waterings.
Give it a try! Richard Doutt's book, CAPE BULBS, from Timber Press, has
more information and color pictures.
Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@hsc.edu>
