Re: South African bulbs
- To: c*@bulbargence.com, g*@swipnet.se
- Subject: Re: South African bulbs
- From: J* M*
- Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 14:45:35 -0700
Nan Sterman wrote:
When should I STOP watering my summer dormant South African bulbs?
Nan et al.,
I agree that, as a rule-of-thumb, summer-dormant bulbs from South Africa and
other mediterranean-type climates should be watered until their tops are
almost completely dry so that they can take advantage of any chlorophyll
they still might contain to manufacture sugars and store them as starches
for the next year's growth energy. However, sometimes it is desirable to
grow these bulbs with plants that require summer water. I particularly like
to combine them with winter-dormant groundcovers that will mark where the
bulbs are planted and suppress weed growth during the summer rather than
leaving them in bare ground.
While I know that some summer-dormant bulbs are very moistaure-sensitive and
will rot if they get any summer water, I find that many are perfectly happy
to go on receiving regular water throughout the summer. In fact, I believe
many actually perform better this way--at least in sunny Southern
California--with the soil kept cool by the groundcover. They suffer less
shrinkage, multiply better, and bloom more.
I have been making a list of mediterranean-climate bulbs and summer-dormant
roots that are not touchy about regular summer water and will come up and
flower year after year with this treatment? Ones that seem to do well for
me include the following genera. Can anyone add to my list?
Allium
Amaryllis
Anemone
Arum italicum
Babiana
Brunsvigia
Chasmanthe
Crocus
Colchicum
Cyclamen
Freesia
Gladiolus
Habranthus
Homeria
Hyacinthoides (Scilla hispanica, Endymion hispanicus)
Ipheion
Ixia
Leucojum aestivum
Moraea polystachia
Muscari
Narcissus
Ornithogalum
Oxalis
Sparaxis
Ranunculus
Tritonia
Tulipa
Urginea maritima
Watsonia
Zantedeschia aetheopica
John MacGregor
jonivy@earthlink.net
----------
>From: Lauw de Jager <contact@bulbargence.com>
>To: gdath@swipnet.se
>Cc: Mediterranean Group <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
>Subject: Re: South African bulbs
>Date: Sun, May 14, 2000, 10:30 PM
>
> Nan Sterman wrote:
>
>
> Dear Nan and Gunnar,
> Welcome Gunnar to the list. Glad to hear that you have taken an
> interest in South African bulbs;
> Bulbs originating from the SW Cape are wintergrowers. Depending on
> the species and the area you are dormancy starts generally from in May
> allthough some species such as Watsonia continue to grow until the
> middle of June. As long as the leaves are green the soil should be
> kept moist (no problem here the last couple of weeks). As soon as the
> first signs of yellowing appear watering should be withheld and the soil
> or pot should be kept dry(or almost) until the late summer showers
> arrive in the end of August.
> Attention with south African bulbs from the summerrain areas (eastern
> Cape, Natal and Transvaal),which should be kept moist in the summer and
> dry in the winter.
>
> For further information I invite you to join the bulb gardening
> club in
> WWW.bulbargence.com
> I hope that will be of some help
> Kind regards
>
>
> --
> Lauw de Jager
> BULB'ARGENCE, 30300 Fourques, France
> Region: Provence/Camargue Climat: Zone 9a (Mediterranean)
> Tel: 33 466 016 519 Fax: 33 466 011 245
> Web : http://www.bulbargence.com/
> mailto: de Jager@bulbargence.com
>
>
