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acidanthera
Josie4
Posts: 1
I have grown acidanthera for a number of years with complete success, but this year the buds are dry and failed to open, the leaves are green and healthy looking with no sign of insect or slug damage on them or on the buds.I buy new bulbs every year as I know these are half hardy plants, I grow them in 12inch pots and make sure they don't dry out, and in a sunny position in the garden.Can anybody help me and suggest what went wrong
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Posts
I would like to know what you normally do to get them to flower, every spring I am tempted and every summer I am disappointed.
Hello,
I don't know what the problem is with Josie4's buds but for Kate1123: I tried and failed with acidanthera twice, then last year put them in the sunniest spot I could find. They flowered beautifully and when I lifted them for storage I could see that the bulbs had bulked up; there were also lots of bulblets that I am growing on, so would suggest that sun and lots of it is the way to go.
All the best,
Heliotrope thanks for the advice, I have put them in the sunniest spot in my garden, but lots of sun is the one thing I cannot control. There is not even a sign of a flower spike/bud. I will try and be patient
I bought 40 acidenthera bulbs at Cardiff flower show in April. When I checked on growing conditions and saw they were not fully hardy, I split them up between six large plastic pots and sank them into the ground. They have all flowered prolifically, despite the rain here in Wales. I am thinking of growing tulips this way as I am always slicing them up when trying to put summer plants in.
Back to the acidanthera - they are not much like other gladioli as their flowers are well separated but they are tall and beautiful and shine out even on dull days. Don't give up, Josie4, but do try feeding the bulbs after they have flowered to help them 'stock up' for next year.