Veltheimia

Richard xerics@cox.net
Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:54:50 PDT
My Veltheimia bracteata are in lush growth right now but no
buds. On the other hand, I have one capensis that is in full
growth with a spike of buds, two others that have started growth
and one other that is still dormant. The capensis are all in
pots in the same area. 
Another veltheimia issue I have is this: a variety of seed has
surfaced, of under the name capensis, that has much larger,
glaucus vegetative leaves with none of the crinkles seen in true
capensis. I have received these from three different sources
over the past few years. No blooms yet. I wonder what is going
on?

Richard
Vista CA



"I'm really curious about Doug Westfall's recent post about the
status 
of his Veltheimia

>There are flower spikes on most of them

My Veltheimia bracteata has just broken dormancy this month.
Most of 
the plants haven't had leaves since early summer. Are these new 
flower spikes? My plants usually bloom sometime from March to
May.

This is another example of how plants grow really differently in

Southern California than in Northern California.

Many years ago when we discussed Veltheimia some people reported

their plants never went dormant, probably because of the
difference 
in how much moisture they got in summer. When the leaves on mine

start dying back, I stop watering them. The ones I planted in
the 
ground dwindled away I expect because it was too dry for them in

summer since in South Africa they would have rainfall in summer.
In 
large containers in the shade in our relatively cool summers the
soil 
probably doesn't dry out so much.

How do you treat yours Doug?

Mary Sue"


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






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