ixia viridiflora

Mary Sue Ittner msittner@mcn.org
Tue, 07 Oct 2003 07:54:29 PDT
Hi,

Ixia viridiflora has a reputation for being short lived and difficult. It 
is a very popular flower because of its amazing turquoise color and I 
expect people who sell it sell out every year.

I reread some postings on it from a number of years ago on another list. 
Some people advised never disturbing the plants after they were potted 
saying that some corms didn't survive repotting. Some advised a dry 
dormancy, but at least one person who advised that admitted that corms 
planted that way only lasted a couple of seasons before they stopped 
blooming and disappeared.  A couple others commented that bulbs they had 
planted where they got summer water were doing just fine. Someone else 
suggested maybe that is why people in New Zealand do well because bulbs 
would be getting year round water.

Unlike some of you I don't water most of my winter growing bulbs when they 
are dormant. Water is precious here and very expensive and our water supply 
probably comes indirectly from our river. We are encouraged to conserve in 
summer so there will be enough water left in the river for the fish. Most 
of my bulbs survive just fine this way and if they don't, I console myself 
that perhaps they weren't meant for me to grow. But after those stories 
about Ixia viridiflora I began to make sure it got some summer water and it 
has bloomed for me every year since. I wouldn't say all the corms bloom, 
but enough to enjoy.

I checked my notes and my Ixia viridiflora bloomed the third year from 
seed. I first started it in 1995 however and I know lots more about growing 
from seed now so expect if I did it now it would bloom the second year from 
seed.

Mary Sue


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


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