Ferraria growing conditions

mark zukaitis mzukaitis@msn.com
Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:27:08 PST
I don't know much about growing conditions for Ferraria but you reminded me of the time in Key West that I found a patch along someone's walk and I was surprised by the intricate flowers (though they were small in proportion to the plant).  It looked like a pretty old planting.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Michael Mace<mailto:mikemace@att.net> 
  To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org<mailto:pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> 
  Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 4:11 PM
  Subject: Re: [pbs] Ferraria growing conditions


  Brian wrote:

  >> Can someone advise me on growing Ferraria in the UK?

  Brian, I want to underline what Alberto said -- Ferraria when they're happy
  are thick-stalked plants that don't flop over.

  I grow them in California, in 8-inch (20 cm) pots, in an area where the
  temperature in winter ranges from the 50s-60s during the day (around 15C)
  down to about 20F at night (about -7C).  They don't show any frost damage at
  that temperature, although they do get leaf burn if the temp drops much
  below that.  So you definitely do not need to keep them warmer than they
  already are in your frost-free greenhouse.  They might even be a bit happier
  growing in colder conditions.

  I'm also a little surprised that you have some of them over a foot high
  already.  Mine are just getting started at this time of year (my earliest
  one, Ferraria densepunctulata, is a few inches tall right now).  Of course,
  the pots are bone dry from May until late October, so there's nothing to
  trigger growth during the summer.

  If I had to guess, I'd suggest more light, lower temperatures in the growing
  season with day-night variation, and keep them as dry as you can in summer.

  Hope that helps.

  Mike
  San Jose CA (zone 9, min temp 20F / -7C)

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