Gloriosa Vine

I was not amused earlier when I discovered that one of the tubers of my Gloriosa Vine had been 'removed' from it's pot ...



It has just sent up it's new vine for this year after being nutured through the winter.

What would eat it? We have mice, rats, snakes and rabbits .... and two cats who keep three out of the four of these critters at bay (usually leaving the snakes alone). A couple of days ago I discovered my coffee plants 'disturbed' and these pots are in the same area.

Any ideas?

 

I was under the impression the tubers are poisonous.

But may be only to humans.:D

 

Heat Bob, Heat.

And your right not to overwater, they rot very easily if the temps are low.

Just a bit of dampness and as hot as possible.

Mine all rotted last summer, I had had them for years, it was not a good summer for them even under glass.

 

Could be birds, Bob ... it's a complete puzzlement what has dug this pot out and the coffee plant.

Mine got left to chance :hehe: I just forgot about the pot and it had to suffer with our slight frost and heavy rains. Then it just shot up a stem ... now disappeared ...

I lost the first one I had two years ago when the builders were here ... it just got neglected in the heat sadly and wilted away ... shame since they cost 15 Euros for a 20cm pot with several tubers and stems 1.5-2 meters tall (twisted on a frame) in flower .... that's more than I pay for anything.

 

Vicky, I'm only guessing but I'm not sure its growing cycle corresponds with your climate.

I tend to think they like hot damp summers and cool dry winters, so outside at your place might be a little out of step.

 

Just leave it in a sunny spot in the greenhouse Bob.

They are late starters.

 

Two stems shot up out of seemingly nowhere overnight a couple of weeks ago and today I was greeted with this ....

 

Nice one Vicky:thumb:

 

That is one fabulous bloom Vicky :thmb:

 

Thanks pete and roders ... I'm really chuffed with it as I thought it was a lost cause ... even here ....

Meant to say pete ... we have warm damp winters and hot dry summers ..... :hehe:

I'll keep you posted on progress.

 

It's a beauty my lady.:gnthb:

 

Thank you, walnut .... and now I have a second bloom and a second stem forming buds buds ....

 

Are you still growing yours Victoria?

 

I sure am longk ... but sadly only one stem of the two came up this year and I had no flowers ... ... but I live in hope for next year because even here they are not cheap!

Have you tried them? They are just incredible flowers.

 

I grow G.superba (yours looks like G.superba Rothschildiana) in a pot here and it always does well.
Three tubers this year produced this haul in the autumn..............


The three tubers that I planted were pretty shrivelled and discarded - the individual tubers have a lifespan of two to three years.