PUSHING THE BORDERS

I’m still not entirely convinced by the idea that some plants need to be pot bound to flower but that and artificial sea spray is worth trying, not much else seems to work with them!

I know what you mean Ian. The same is often said about Agapanthus but I have them flowering in pots where they are certainly not potbound and they are certainly not potbound when planted in the ground. However, many of the images I have seen of this plant in flower in pots and it does seem to be that the pots look very small for the plant. We will see!
I am more convinced that they need a summer bake of prolonged duration such as we don’t get in the UK in which case we’re on to a loser! Unless you live in sunny Essex!

The short dumpy and desirable flower shoot is from a new bulb bought this year. The tall spike with one seed pod is one of my original plants grown from seed. I'm hoping they will all be like the new ones next year.

They should synchronise in flowering next year as well.

Chad

Nice Chad. I’ve planted my 3 new bulbs at twice their depth as suggested by the sellers, Farmer Gracey. However, there is a Facebook post where one grower has this plant:



Apparently a single bulb which has subsequently multiplied and produced this super plant. The bulbs are on the surface with only roots going down into soil. I’m thinking I might yank mine up and plonk them on the surface. Clearly this works and I’d love a plant like that.

My seedlings positioned themselves with about 1/3 of the bulb above the ground.

Bulbs tend to 'find' their own level.

The only reason for planting this one lower would be for frost protection, but I hope not to see significant frost in the tunnel.

Chad

Ours look like the one in your picture Martin

Perhaps one day I will see something similar. 16 flowering stems in that pot from one original bulb. That’s pretty impressive.