Re: Gloriosa, Glory Lily, Tiger's Claws

on 5/31/05 12:51 PM, Chapel Ridge Wal Mart National Hearing Center at
4042N15@nationalhearing.com wrote:

>> As it grows, Gloriosa leans away from the light--which means it would
>> lean
>> in toward your lilac bush and grab ahold of its twigs with the tendrils at
>> the ends of its leaves.
> 
> John,
> Does that mean the flowers would be inside the lilac as opposed to on the
> surface?  I've grown climbing roses and clematis on trees and they tend to
> reach for the sun and bloom over the tree's canopy.  This is what I was
> hoping for with the Gloriosa and the lilac.

Not necessarily.  You must keep in mind the function of the vining habit in
plants: to raise the stem out of the darkness of the forest floor where it
germinated up above the surrounding foliage to display its flowers to
pollinators to ensure seed setting and perpetuation of the species.  Ivy and
many other vines initially display a reverse phototropism by growing toward
the darkest point on the horizon, since that usually is a tree trunk or
other solid object up whose face the vine can climb.

Once the Gloriosa has latched onto the outer twigs of the lilac with its
leaftip tendrils, its leaves and inflorescence will lean out toward the
light, displaying the flowers
 
> Also, it's beginning to seem like the gallon pot might not be sufficient.  I
> used a gallon because I started it on a heatmat.   Does it repot well or
> does it dislike disturbance?

I don't know what soil mixture you are using.  The roots of lilies tend to
be thick, fleshy, and somewhat elastic rather than fine and highly diffuse,
so they may not hold the soil ball too well.  However, if done carefully, it
should be possible to knock it out of its gallon can with minimal soil
disturbance.  Even if soil falls off, you should be able to transfer it with
minimal root breakage.  If you water thoroughly to settle the soil
immediately after replanting and keep the plant shaded for a day,
transplanting shock should be minimal.
 
John MacGregor
South Pasadena, CA 91030
USDA zone 9   Sunset zones 21/23
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