Re: Glads & Fluffies
- To: "medit-plants"
- Subject: Re: Glads & Fluffies
- From: G* B*
- Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 10:43:15 +0200
Hi All
I suspect the vast majority of members on this list, as myself, find they
have little time to do other than check their mailbox each day, then rush
out to work. I do appreciate the discussions here & would like to
participate more but its a very time consuming process.
Perhaps I can help make amends with this one.
Glads first: to be precise, Gladiolus cardinalis. I've had this plant in
>my garden for a few years now, originally a single corm from Gary Dunlop's
>nursery in Northern Ireland. By '98 it was clumping up nicely, so I managed
>to remove a few corms from the outside of the clump, to distribute to
>friends. I also saved the seed from that year's flowers, and these
germinated
>well in '99. The original clump refused to flower last year; I assume that
it
>was due to having its roots disturbed the previous year, rather than '98's
>atrociously poor summer. During last year, I noticed that an offset which I
>had planted in the back garden, and the seedlings that I planted out in the
>front garden (both in semi-shaded, and not particularly well-drained
>positions) were obviously much happier plants than the original clump. This
>was, until a couple of days ago, in the hottest and sharpest-drained spot
in
>the garden. I've now moved it to a semi-shaded spot near to, (and
eventually
>under?) a Podocarpus macrophyllus. Could anyone with more experience of
this
>particular species tell me if I will live to regret moving the plant? Or
>otherwise?
This is South Africas waterfall or New Year lily.Blooms over Xmas/ New Year
& I've only ever seen it growing in cracks on rock ledges by waterfalls
where its permanently cool & humid & normally has a year round flow of fresh
water trickling over the roots. The same as Disa uniflora, if you're
familiar with that plant. The ones I know are all in full sun - shading
doesn't appear to be a factor.
I'd say your plants growing better in the shaded spot would be more a
function of increased moisture. I've never tried growing it myself but would
go for a very humus rich mix with a lot of water - preferably not stale.
A beautiful subject. A very welcome sight when you're hiking through the
fynbos, everythings burnt bare & brown, & you come across a trickling
rockface with a mass of them in brilliant scarlet flower .
Regards
Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
Ph/Fax SA 021 7904253 E-mail valhalla@iafrica.com
Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.
