I responded to Sesomah directly though given Gordons recent
posting on Drosophyllum I thought I would make my thoughts
available to all of you.
Regarding Drosophyllum - plant your seeds in late Summer
early Autumn - now it is the best time of year to succeed
with these (N.Hemisphere). I damage the seed coat with a
knife and soak in water over night before planting. Sow on a
very gritty sandy compost - if you wish, add some sterile
loam or John Innes. Wet the compost and let if fully drain
before planting the seeds. Cover the pot with clear plastic
until the seedlings appear 3-4 weeks. DO NOT STAND THE POT
IN WATER. If you are very careful you can dig out the
seedlings with enough compost without damaging the roots,
and thus you can transplant them into seperate pots. You CAN
transplant these plants whilst still young so long as you
repot them before they get too big for the pot. This way you
avoid damaging the root system. I keep adult plants in 8
inch pots.
Regarding winter - mine are kept either in my conservatory
or in a greenhouse at 10 deg C. Keep dry but avoid allowing
the plants to dry so much they loose their dew and wilt. You
may get away with this once - the next time you will
probably loose the plants. Spring/Summer sowing have never
been too successful - with the seeds and seedlings damping
off.
Now a question - my observations of this plant are confined
to my plants in cultivation. They are large plants 40 to
60cms tall with multiple growth points. They thus appear as
quit neat little shrubs. I think Adrian Slack talks about
them falling over and growing about 6 foot in length. Gordon
were the plants you saw shrub like or long and leggy as
Slack described them?
>In any case, I hope I can start growing this plant again
>soon and continue to gain growing experience with it. (If
>anyone has any seeds to spare, trade or sell,
>I would be interested!)
Gordon send me your address and I'll sort you out with seed.
Regards
Loyd