Re: Growing Outdoors


----->You mention specifically some winter problems with the T.
concolor/fasciculata
>complex. I have up to 60 plants in this group and they also get full of
cold
>rainwater during winter (as well as extremely high dry heat in summer). But
>they do not seem to suffer. As a number came from Pamela Koide originally,
>perhaps it is a tribute to their upbringing.
>However, when Eric Gouda and I visited a small nursery 14 months ago in the
>Netherlands, I purchased two plants collected in Venezuela which I assume
were
>smallish T. fasciculata. They seemed to be thriving and had rooted firmly
onto
>the cork. However, both rotted in the deep centre during last winter. They
were
>my first casualties ever in this complex. Perhaps I should have taken more
>notice of their country of origin.

Hi Len

This could also well be an indication of the conditions they were initially
grown in , rather than an indication of their origin. Being Dutch I assume
they were from a heated greenhouse & therefore not too well hardened off. My
T concolor/fasciculatas which weren't damaged now exhibit a marked stiffness
& thickness of leaf which their more coddled counterparts haven't developed.
The shock of transplantation to your environment may have been too much.
Oddly enough , my damaged plants haven't rotted in the centre, as yours
have, & still seem to exhibit solid cores. It appears to be the bases of the
outer leaves, where the water would collect, has taken the damage & has a
dryish, rotted, unsightly appearance. The central reservoirs appear totally
untouched. It will be interesting to see what develops from here.

Do I recall you writing once that you have a small covered house for more
delicate plants ? If so what would you regard those ones as being ?

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.
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