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Acidanthera

GrajeanGrajean Posts: 447
in Plants
I grew these for the first time this year, one flowered early August. Is it too late for the others to flower? The leaves are lovely and green, no sign of dying off. Pots are in full sun and watered regularly. When they do die down do I leave them in the pots or remove the corms an store?
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  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    You did well. I never get them to flower in our British weather. This year we have had the heat. I doubt it will happen again. The  corms would need to be stored in a cool dark frost free place. Meanwhile keep them in the sunny place until the leaves die down naturally.
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    edited September 2018
    I did not grow any this year., it has been an odd year for things, so not sure if it down to the weather.
    They usually do well in the conditions you describe, need a good hot summer. An important point is that they do need a long growing season. They may still flower yet. I put mine in late last year and some did not flower. If the weather stays good yours still might.
    They are not very hardy i have taken them in and dried the corms off, wet and cold rots them.
    Also you get a million baby ones, I no longer bother with them, it is too much trouble to keep them going (for me at least) to flowering size.  Though I did used to try to grow and keep them as I felt guilty the plants being so generous.

    I do appreciate that some folks like to grow on or store and dry bulbs and keep things going, that is what gardening is all about. But they are a relatively cheap bulb, so when I remember I buy some fresh as soon as I see them.

    They are lovely though, aren't they :)
    Edited to add, I just checked the flowering season August to October so still time.

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Mine are only just flowering now which is a bit late, even for acidanthera, but they are lovely and the big bumble bees and other pollinators appreciate the late flowers.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Mine haven't flowered yet.  I started them in pots then planted out when they had a good bit of foliage.  They were very cheap so I'm not inclined to faff around lifting and storing them - they can take their chances in the ground.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    Mine are flowering now and have been for a few weeks. I haven't decided whether to lift the bulbs or lose them yet. They look great so I might keep hold of them.

    What has been disappointing is that I grew them (and bought them for my brother) primarily for the scent. I last grew them about 15 years ago in another garden and they smelled divine. These ones, nothing. Nada - even if you stuff your nose right into them. Has anyone else experienced this?
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • GrajeanGrajean Posts: 447
    Thanks everyone.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited September 2018
    It's not as wimpy as we're led to believe.  I grew a whole packet in a huge pot in my Belgian garden and moved it to shelter for winter.  The following spring I found it had self-seeded into neighbouring pots and beds and was growing happily outside.  It has come with me in that original pot and self-seeded here too.  Maybe the originals are a bit late this year because I planted them out in clumps in a bed and they've been hit by drought?
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    @Obelixx. I have grown them in pots mostly in the past, we have heavy clay soil. Some baby ones did come up in a very sheltered relatively well drained  spot, and also some older corms do grow to a good size ( in pots here) so I have kept them in the past.
    @LG you have not lost your sense of smell? Sorry some things I used to be able to smell I no longer can. I find Acidanthera still smelly though :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Didn't do any this year, but I've grown them in one of my raised beds, where they get sun and decent drainage. I usually pot them up, keep them undercover, and wait till it's suitable to plant them out. I leave them in, and they rarely return, but I don't mind.  I think the weather conditions this year have probably been a factor if they're not flowering, or not flowering as well as normal. 
    They're very inexpensive, so I treat them as annuals really. Pretty when they flower  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Well......I must be doing something wrong !

    Mine stayed on a greenhouse staging throughout the summer ; full-sunshine and plenty of water .
    You'll never guess ...............not one b****y flower !!

    Nice foliage though :)
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