Re: Kew-eries

    On the point of Dietes robinsoniana, I have two seedlings of this species 
here. They were seed from the Australasian Plant Society last May. One I 
planted in the ground last August (I think!), the other has been kept under 
glass in the conservatory; this is normally heated to 50C each winter, but 
this year I didn't bother. The indoor specimen is, unsurprisingly, perfectly 
happy, the longest leaf is now about 10 inches long, and the first subsidiary 
fan has already formed. The outdoor plant is in a south-facing slightly 
raised bed, but nevertheless in the front garden, which is far more open to 
the elements than the back. It too is still alive, just about, but could 
hardly be described as thriving. Most leaves have turned brown, but there are 
two which are still green. This is after only 4 nights of frost, and only 2 
of those got down to -3C. So I doubt whether this plant is a realistic 
proposition except in the most favoured of climates, such as Tresco, St. 
Mawes, Torquay. The Isoplexis sceptrum to one side is quite untouched, and 
I'm hoping that the Lyonothamnus floribundus, on the other side, which is 
only a litle more than a foot tall at present, will before too long provide 
the requisite overhead shelter, which just might make a difference between 
life & death.

Einion Hughes, Rhyl, 
Denbighshire, Wales, U.K.
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index