Gloriosa superba

I tend to keep mine on the moist side until I decide to force them into dormancy. Then I just withdraw water.

 

They are easily over watered John, so err on the side of dry rather than overwet.

 

Oooh - I'm about to disagree

Moist every time for me. I their natural habitat they go dormant during the dry season. I agree that they will rot at the drop of a hat if they are moist when dormant, but not when in growth.

 

I've always found that in a normal summer, one day warm, one day cold and cloudy, watering is difficult, which is why I've never tried outdoor growing before, you cant control the watering.
I agree they need moisture when in growth, but to lie wet in cool cloudy conditions can lead to root rot.
Thats my main reason for erring on the dry side, infact they are not thirsty plants, I find the pots dry out quite slowly, even in hot weather, compared to more leafy type plants.

 

I think based on the comments I will water only when the weather is warm and the ground is dry. Otherwise I'll leave it to its own devices.

 

Many of the plants in the average garden are poisonous - it is almost unheard of for even the most toxic to kill, so much better to educate rather than to avoid. Kids go to other people's houses and gardens, if their home garden is carefully devoid of anything dangerous they are at huge risk wherever else they go ...

Most poisonous plants taste foul, so don't actually get eaten in practice.

 

Tell that to a Labrador puppy in a potato patch :D. I don't think you would have to eat much of it to get an ouch, but its still more worth mentioning than not, I'm sure we all agree.

 

The list of relatively well known / commonly grown plants that are poisonous or skin irritants that you would need to avoid having in your garden includes any form of potatoes / any Solanum (except Tomatoes I suppose), Aconites, Lupins, Lilies (pollen), Actaea, Horse chestnut, Aloes/Opuntia, Brugmansia/Datura, Amarilyis/Hippeastrum/Peruvian lily, Deadly Nightshade, Bluebells/Hyacinth, Aroids like Alocasia / Colocasia / Taro / Caladium / Arisaema / Arum / Calla / Peace lily, Euphorbia, Euonymous, Ricinus/Castor Oil plant, Laurel (Cherry & Portuguese), Chrysanthemum, Autumn crocus, Comfrey, Lily of the Valley, Larkspur/Delphinium, Echium, Figs/Ficus, Ivy, Hellebore, Hypericum, Ipomoea / Morning Glory, Iris, Rhus, Laburnum, Leylandii, Privet, Daphne, Daffodils/Narcissus, Nicotiana, Oleander, Papaver somniferum, Passion Flower, Phytolacca /Pokeweed, Pointsettia, Solomon’s seal, Robinia, Rue, Some Sambucus, Umbrella tree, Snowberry, Cheese plant, Yew, Tulips, Wisteria ...

... not to mention Apple Pips that contain cyanide and have been used for suicide ...

... or beware and educate. Simple mantra for kids, that I was brought up with, is "If it is not a food plant, do not eat it and if you have been touching plants wash your hands when you come in"

 

I know that our mix is different to yours @John Harruison (yours being in the ground), and by the sounds of it @pete and I have a very different mix (mine is airy and very free draining) too, so I don't think any of us are doing it wrong.

 

I thought echium was of very low toxicity?
Also I've eaten a lot of morning glory before... ahem.
And I used to use our Passion fruits in salads
You would need a pint of the bloody apple seeds to kill yourself though. That fire lily is like buttering your toast with pure ricin.

 

They are, but but they are a skin irritant.

 

Cool. Il be doing those in great numbers starting next year. The massive ones.

 

I thought you didn't want "dangerous" plants in your garden because of your Labrador?

 

We had a labrador when I was a kid.
The most dangerous thing in our garden was the dog, but in the nicest possible way.

It only knocked you over for fun.

 

Here are the other two species that I'm growing in bloom at last;
G.lutea...................


It's a little bit so-so in my honest opinion.

Far, far better is G.carsonii................


Really good shade of red, the greeny yellow is excellent, but the best feature about it is that it has the best shape of all the Gloriosa that I've grown so far.