On 8 Jul 06, at 11:22, Jacinda and Barry wrote: > I have been meaning to ask if anyone grows this and if it is easy to > set from seed. Also I am aware of one of the Bulb Mail order houses > that sells it in Tasmania but not of any others. > > Would love some info that doesn't come just out of a book. > > Greatly appreciate any assistance as would like to try growing them > but they are about $30 each here! Regards 1. Add lots of fine granite sand (canary grit, say) or rotted granite to your potting mix. Tecophilaea seems to like the potassium granite gradually releases. 2. The bulbs will set seed if you hand-pollinate them. 3. Seedlings reputedly take a long time to reach flowering size and are rather tricky to carry over the first few years. 4. Foliage is scanty so Tecophilaea must be protected from slugs. 5. Give them a circum-neutral soil, pH 6 or 7. 6. Give them a *cool* dry summer rest: no water, but in the shade. I grow mine in large pots so I can give them shelter from hard arctic freezes, but they spend most of the winter outdoors, sheltered overhead from rain, in as sunny a spot as I can provide. They can handle some frost. -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate on beautiful Vancouver Island