Re: Sprekelia formosissima
> Is there any secret to getting this plant to bloom? I've grown the bulbs
>in pots for several years -- they make lots of leaves and new offshoots,
>but never any sign of a flower. Does it need more sun, or a dry winter?
Both really. They are like Hippeastrums (Amaryllis) and seem to
require much the same treatment - bright light at all times, heavy
feeding during the growing season followed by a protracted rest in
cool, dry conditions. They can be flowered without the rest, but seem
to perform better if they get a long dry period. Full sun, especially
from the middle of summer onwards is the trigger they need to initiate
flower bud production and most people growing them in pots, tend to
put them outside to ripen fully. The fertiliser BTW should be a high
potash type - tomato fertiliser is fine.
HTH.
Dave Poole
TORQUAY UK
http://www.ilsham.demon.co.uk/gardenviews.html
