We have had a much warmer than normal winter with winter rain. The result is a relatively early start to the season. We have quite a range of miniatures flowering now and depending on my editing skills I hope to post some examples of what is flowering.
Graham,
Excellent! Can you tell us what they are?
Clay
Clay, I none of the seedlings in the photos have numbers yet. The little 1Y-P certainly ought to as it is an excellent little miniature although the pink does not show up all that well in the photo. I have a slightly larger one that is intermediate. It fades to a reverse bicolor. The miniature 1Y-Y is more of micro mini and is from our N. asturiensis var. vasconicus. I have no idea about the split cyclamineus. It is quite neatly split but could hardly be described as attractive other than in its colour which will be white when it matures. The N zaianicus is a fairly large form that I am using for breeding with Rod Barwick’s Mondieu to get giant bulbocodiums with flair. I have photos of numbered seedlings but I need to edit them.
The miniature 6W-Y’s are part of our ongoing miniature 6W-P breeding program. A lot have a pink hue and fade to 6W-W when mature. Some are 6W-P and the hard part is making the pink enduring.
Quiet nice Graham,
I’m still learning how to grow N. cyclamineus and miniature 6Y-Y in my soil that I describe as Sand, Sand, Sand and the hot! hot! dry summer weather we have here. I have been able to keep some alive with a drip system, however I keep thinking that I have the formula, and I lose my N. cyclamineus and crosses again!!!
I’ve stumbled upon these water absorbing crystals, and mixing that into potting soil and the Garden Soil that enriches the soil and it seems to be working for now (year 1). I had better germination of my miniature seeds this spring than I have ever had. If it is the right formula after another year, I may look into purchasing some of the marvelous miniature 6W-P you are working on for breeding stock
Keep up the wonderful program that you have.
Clay
Clay,
Lawrence has made a similar comment to this in another post. My N cyclamineus never get watered and we live in a dry climate. I believe that the secret is that they have shade and leaf litter during the summer. I also suspect that some species cyclamineus are dry tolerant. You got seed from me some years ago and they should do okay in your conditions.
Dave
Dave,
I’m sorry to report that the seeds I got from you never came up. That fall and winter that I planted them was a tough one. Almost no winter cold, and very dry. I lost most of my miniature seeds that I planted that year. However, the standard seeds did okay and I have a number of promising seedling from the standards.
On the other hand, I had a number of N. cyclamineus bulb that I got from Graham Fleming about 12 years ago that I still have a couple left. I have had others that didn’t survive as well. I have those planted in potting soil and have a “drip” on them in the summer. So far so good. I have since learned that I have to plant my seeds into potting soil that has a little perlite in it to keep the moisture there.
I do plant them in a area where they get shade, and the potting soil seems to be a good substitute for leaf litter. I also mulch them with pine bark mulch for the summer.
I keep trying!!! :-)
Clay