What promotes blooming?

Robt R Pries rpries@sbcglobal.net
Thu, 11 Oct 2007 08:31:44 PDT
I have done a few uncontrolled experiments with bloom
on Rain lilies. Since I have kept the plants
moderately moist all summer i wondered about the
effect of rain. I certainly would see a flush of bloom
after a good rain. Several times this summer we had a
day or two which cooled because of threatening rain
storms but the storms never came. instead I increased
the water at those times and I got a flush of bloom
just as if it had really rained. I suspect that extar
water, whether it is from rain or hose, plus a drop in
pressure and change in temperature all combine to
trigger a flush of bloom. I do water always with very
dilute fertizer so nitrogen could be important but it
is hard to say this must be from rain.
--- Stephen Putman <putman@pobox.upenn.edu> wrote:

> I have noticed a difference in effect between a
> soaking rain on potted 
> plants vs. a soaking from the hose or watering can. 
> Several 
> mediterranean Scilla sprouted last season in exactly
> one week from the 
> time of a soaking rain.  This year, absent the rain
> the time to 
> emergence varied from 3 to 6 weeks.  n.b. We also
> had warmer nights this 
> year, so this was NOT a controlled experiment, and
> the difference may be 
> due to the lack of drop in night temperatures as
> much as it was due to 
> source of water.
> 
> Steve Putman
> 
> rdjenkins wrote:
> > In a thread earlier in the season, there was some
> discussion on how to coax, induce, promote etc.
> certain bulbs to bloom. In looking at my small
> collection of Crinums that are of blooming size and
> how they've done this season, I'd like to say a few
> things.
> > 
> > I was able to irrigate my plants well enough to
> promote good growth and supply their needs during
> the times that they are naturally inclined to
> flower. I tried to simulate rainfall by spraying the
> foliage as well as watering from the center out to
> and beyond their "dripline" as well as time
> permitted. Natural rainfall would do both. I thought
> that perhaps the soaking of the entire rootmass (all
> 6+ feet of it in some cases) might be needed. I
> thought that perhaps the water collecting in the
> leaf axils might be a factor.
> > 
> > One thing I couldn't affect was the lowered
> ambient temperature that occurs during a good
> rainfall, perhaps extending over several days or
> more, before, during and after the rain.  Does the
> period of lowered temperature have an affect?
> > 
> > Is the moisture that collects on the green parts a
> factor? Even in spraying the foliage, I couldn't
> keep the moisture on the plant due to the baking
> heat here. The lowered temperatures and lack of
> beatingly hot direct sun during rainfall allows the
> water to remain for a period that I cannot duplicate
> by my own means. I didn't see anything to suggest
> that my syringing made any difference. 
> > 
> > We have just had some good rainfall here finally
> as our drought has caused dangerous shortages in the
> water supply statewide. 
> > 
> > And what do I see today? A new scape just sprang
> forth between last night and this morning on C.
> scabrum. The same plant that I have kept
> well-irrigated all season, though I only seldom
> watered around the plant as widely as I might have,
> not anywhere near the fullness and degree that the
> rain provided. (BTW-We have our own well.)
> > 
> > Good rainfall gave lowered light intensity,
> lowered temps, and a full wide and deep watering.
> > 
> > Something that only nature can accomplish easily
> had it's effect, leaving me with more questions than
> answers.
> > 
> > For now, that is.
> > 
> > Robert.
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