D. cistiflora

MAHARAJ@MCMASTER.BITNET
Tue, 5 Nov 91 17:41:45 MST

>Anyone ever grow D. cistiflora to an appreciable size? Mine is about a
>year old and still less than 1cm across. It is a red flowered clone
>and I wanna see it flower!

>BAMR

I have tried on many an occasion to reclimatize mature plants (normal and
var. zecheri forms) to northern hemisphere growing conditions but without
luck. Plants sent from South African growers in the growing state NEVER
grew and eventually rotted. One plant, however, limped along for one growing
season but never emerged the following spring. I've also got a red flowering
clone raised from seed which is at the 1 cm high mark - my most mature batch.
The working hypothesis for success with this species - as with most other
"difficult" South African species no doubt - is to keep it cool (10<T<20 C)
during the growing season while providing direct sunlight (> say 3-4 hours/
day). So its one of those plants that should do well right next to your
N. rajah!

Rob