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I have been looking for a great way to keep my growing collection in a single space to have good sunlight in the winter/early spring and hot but protected summer temperatures.

Have read a few of you have these sorts of beds and having seen the beautiful Alpine beds at the Royal BG Edinburgh and Wisley I think this might be an option.

I have come across some 2x12 fir boards that I can use to make some nice raised beds (waist height for viewing and I don't bend very well anymore). I know they will rot reasonably quickly so I think I will want to add a liner.

I have built several aquaponic systems and ponds so I know how to make them water proof but I am now thinking about drainage.

I'll need lots of holes, and bulkhead fittings are a bit expensive, so I think maybe creating a series of sloped areas like a shower base might direct the water out quickly. Maybe use some of the tile set material under the liner.

Water does not move well from sand to gravel so that is not really a good option, and I have never used sand in a pond so I am not sure how to keep it in the base without it falling or clogging.

I can make it pretty deep so maybe the sand to gravel and perch layer will not be an issue.

Any suggestions or comments?

Peter

Thats it thanks!

not a geophyte right?

Peter

Quite tall, 4-6' maybe, clumping, may be a bit of a spreader.

Beautiful foliage for sure.

Fits into the tropical theme of the landscape.

Seed pods if anyone is interested.

These are not in my garden. I saw them at the Bonny Doon Ecological Preserve yesterday.

Quote from: Uli on June 11, 2023, 04:03:17 AMI agree with the others. There is no general treatment for winter growing seedlings during their first summer. What I do is to group the pots together which need the same treatment. All in shade. Those pots where the seedlings go completely dormant are moved to the dormant group and those which remain at least partly green are kept moist. However, even the fully dormant pots get a small amount of water every four weeks or so. Small bulbs my dry up to death if kept brutally dry for many months, especially in a hot climate. It has also happened to me that seedling bulbs have rotted with too much water during dormancy but this is the exception. I have lost more to drought. All this is a matter of constant learning and close observation.
Uli
Great information, thank you all, 
I have been doing exactly this, those that seem to be constantly green get some water and light fertilizer when they seem dry and those having gone dormant are in my dry area propagation box. I will add some water to them occasionally with this tip, thanks

Do I understand this correctly, that I should keep them growing all summer? I am guessing the bulbs need to grow to withstand a summer dry period in a pot. 

I think I found this recommendation in one of the old Bulb Garden that were just recently posted. 

I am sure there is no simple answer as different species need different treatments. I had some go tan then brown really quickly while others are still green (growing?)

Peter

Quote from: Robert_Parks on June 05, 2023, 05:10:01 PM

Quote from: MarcR on June 02, 2023, 11:52:39 PMOne solution that might work for everyone is to check your markers every 6 mos and replace as needed.  Dynotape plastic labels attached to wooden or metal stakes with small screws (the glue is not reliable) seem to be long lasting.

Growing in pots and lifting almost everything every year lets me keep labels renewed.

It doesn't help when the crows come in and have a fiesta of throwing labels around, or going for the gusto and tossing 2-4 inch pots all over the back patio and playing with the plants thus uprooted.

I can relate to that with squirrels though they just know stuff over. 

I've been trying to train crows to trade peanuts for trinkets, but they are not willing to give me anything back.
 
I did see a video where someone taught a crow to stack pots by size for a treat. Maybe they can at least clean up after their feast!

Beautiful plant. Congrats on keeping the pests away.

We have finally had some very nice warm sunny weather and no change to the flowers. I would have put them in my greenhouse but my friends plants always have scale.....

Thanks for trying, much appreciated

peter

Mid 50's F

not really warm and tired of the rain. 

Gift from an old friend. Labeled O. longibracteatum but not it for sure.

Leaves are thin grasslike, flower stalks branched with flowers vertical and not really opening up fully.

The Wiki page mentions a section of Albuca with vertically held flowers but I cant find a list of those to try to ID it.

thanks

Quote from: David Pilling on March 31, 2023, 03:40:57 AMPlants emit ultrasonic sounds in rapid bursts when stressed, scientists say

Thirsty or damaged plants produce up to 50 staccato pops in an hour, which nearby creatures may respond to, researchers find

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/30/plants-emit-ultrasonic-sounds-in-rapid-bursts-when-stressed-scientists-say

I wonder if it's the snapping of the water columns in the tiny xylem cells, considering the cut the stems or had them wilting. I recall in my plant physiology class 100 years ago that tiny microphones could pick those snaps up.

The breaking of these columns is non reversible and if its happening in lots of areas results in permanent wilting of that part.

Quote from: petershaw on March 12, 2023, 08:45:54 AMGeissorhiza corrugata from the bulb ex. Thanks!

We've had so much rain and cloud cover that I had to bring them into the garage and put then under one of my shop lights to get the flowers to open. I guess more light is needed early to get the twisted leaves.

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These 2 pots are still blooming. There must be something wrong with them, So what gives? Invasive? 

Quote from: Robert_Parks on April 05, 2023, 09:04:25 PM

Quote from: petershaw on April 05, 2023, 07:06:25 AMAs I was thinking about the post about invasive bulbs, this one was top on my mind... Is there anywhere someone would want to grow this plant because it's hard to grow there? Or because it's rare there?

I don't think it is rare anywhere it can grow easily. My neighbor, who lets me garden her front yard prefers they not be removed since they are so pretty. It makes a pretty pot plant...think abandoned pots in the corner of a yard bursting into bloom winter and spring!

I wish I had a neighbor like that! We have a "vacant" house across the street that I could do some planting but every once in a blue moon they send in a string trimmer.

As I was thinking about the post about invasive bulbs, this one was top on my mind... Is there anywhere someone would want to grow this plant because it's hard to grow there? Or because it's rare there?