You wrote:
>Well, I figured that he might need to amend the soil some, but
>don't most plants in the desert grow in winter?
Most of the larger plants (perineals) grow throught the year. The
smaller plants (annuals) that grow close to the ground such as wild
flowers, grasses, etc., germinate in the early spring (February) during
the winter rains. By this time of year (June) the annuals are toast.
The larger plants, trees and cacti, get a second watering during the
monsoon months of July and August. Average annual rainfall is less
than 6" =:o
>I don't really know what AZ's climate is like but I assumed that the
>bulbs would stay dormant through the summer and grow in the winter,
>just like they are doing anyway. How much does it rain there in the
>wet season?
Arizona really has two wet seasons. We get about half of our rain in
the winter and half during the so called summer monsoon season. Summer
rains are usually in the form of violent thunderstorms with a sudden
and brief downpouring of rain. Winter rains are more gentle and allow
the water to soak in. Do you think that a couple of inches of rain in
the heat of the Summer during D. peltata dormancy would bother it?
>Is AZ a drier desert than where bulbous Drosera grow? In
>The Private Lives of Plants, they showed a bit a the area they grow
>in and it was very dry until the rain and then Sundews popped up!
I saw the episode and was thinking the same thing and am hoping that
similar results could be attained! I'll let you know in a few months
how it is going.
John Walker