Nerine sarniensis Hybrids plus

Mary Sue Ittner msittner@mcn.org
Sun, 18 Sep 2005 08:19:04 PDT
Dear All,

Congratulations to Fred for getting his Nerine not only to survive, but to 
bloom in the ground in Massachusetts. Well done.

I've said this before, but when I participated in the bulb rescue I had 
very poor luck at first with most all of my Nerines except for one that 
looks more like a species. It has been my most reliable bloomer, but 
usually has only one scape of small pink flowers. This year it has three 
vigorous ones. Tag says (Wombe X Carmenita)

Harold Koopowitz gave us some instructions. One was not to plant in the 
ground. I had more than I wanted to put in pots so I did try two in the 
ground. I've seen the leaves, but they have never flowered so I think I 
have proved Harold was right.

We've talked about growing Nerines in the past on this list. I'd like to 
refer any of you who were not part of this list when Nerine was the topic 
of the week to review Hamish Sloan's very excellent introductions. He 
really covered it well and with such obvious affection for this genus.
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbslist/old.php/…
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbslist/old.php/…

Following Hamish's advice of making sure the soil does not dry out 
completely in summer as then the buds abort sounds like what Arnold is 
doing. When I left mine completely dry once they went dormant only a couple 
would bloom. This year after leaving mine in the greenhouse to protect from 
our excessive wet winters and leaving them in the greenhouse to provide 
some warmth in summer and watering every couple weeks during dormancy eight 
of eleven are blooming or going to bloom. The other three could still bloom 
since they usually bloom in October, but even if they don't, it is still 
more success than I have ever had! So many of us have learned not to let 
them dry out completely in summer!!! If I could use html I'd underline that 
last statement.

Also blooming right now are Nerine humilis, Nerine platypetala and Nerine 
angustifolia.  And I have buds on Nerine bowdenii and my Nerine undulata x 
flexuosa (all one species now so probably not a cross anymore). At least 
this year I can say I am now having better luck with this South African 
amaryllid than any of the others. I've rotted a number of my Cyrtanthus, 
but it is my second most successful genus. C. sanguineus is blooming at the 
moment and it is so beautiful.

One of my rescue bulbs which is red had a broken tag. I could only read 
part of two words: Bett.. Hud.. Does anyone know what the cultivar name 
should be?

And Bob and I are rejoicing in seeing Bessera elegans in bloom for the 
first time. Wow! I got some from Diana Chapman. Year number one they 
bloomed when we were out of the country. Jana Ulmer took pictures for the 
wiki. Year number two they didn't come up. Year number three one came up 
and the first bloom opened yesterday.

Mary Sue

Mary Sue Ittner
California's North Coast
Wet mild winters with occasional frost
Dry mild summers 


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