I like the self-watering pots, but buying from there...there is no assurance of the color of their blooms!

Thanks Dan.. I just sent you snail mail...

regards,

Kristi,

I got them from Dan. What is your substrate? My older one is in orchid mix, but I am planning pumice for these seedlings. I am wondering when can I change the medium. I also emailed Dan and waiting for his response. Thank you so much..

Dan grows them in milled sphagnum. I included the link in green. I didn't change to pumice when I repotted and they are doing great!

Thx K..

Dan, How old are the large ones? My one from a year ago and seedlings are doing well. They are about to get a new and better "situation".

The large ones in back I have had for 10 years and they had a bit of size on them when I got them so I would guess 15 or more years old. The small ones in front are my 1 year old seedlings….there are 2 and 4 year old seedlings mixed in there as well. I'm glad to hear yours are doing well :o) Dan

Woah. That's outta this world. Those 15 year old ones look more like caudex succulents than bulbs. Ever tried crossing Worsleya with a Griffinia? They're supposed to be close relatives.

I tried when I had some Griffinia (I no longer have any) without success. I know lots of people have tried, but no one has gotten it to work apparently.

I have to say that I think I like the bulb and the leaves almost as much as the flowers which is why I think these are probably my favorite plants I own. If in another 3-4 years they get moved up to 14-15" pots and have the base of the bulb as much as 6" in diameter they will be truly impressive specimens.

Glad you liked them :o) dan

hello fellow enthusiasts...

does anyone have any seed or small bulbs available? would love to get a few and try to get a start on these beautiful plants :-) or can you refer me to someone reputable?

Debbie dbook9@msn.com

Yeah, I'd like to know if anyone knows of a place I can get bulbs or seeds...there's a place selling them on ebay for $75 but it's my first time growing one of these and I don't want to pay quite that much in case I mess it up

Just posted this on another thread, but ebay is the only real option or sign up on Yahoo Groups for the Worsleya forum as people sell seed there all the time (a bit of an exaggeration of course). I've sold both in the past from my plants, but got rid of all my extras so do not have any extras these days. Best of luck finding one for a reasonable price :o) Dan

Thanks for your comment, Dan. I know they are super pricey. I'll sign up with the yahoo group, but might just bite the bullet and get one off ebay. if I do that, i'll buy a bulb so i'll have a head start. I've grown amaryllis for a while now, and want at Worsleya BAD... LOL

Debbie

There culture is nothing like Hippis so read up on how to grow a Worsleya. Best of luck :o) Dan

I've done some homework already... I'm thinking Pumice is the medium to use , but i'll do research here on the forum before I place an order. surely don't want to screw up and kill it after spending so much money...

Debbie

I guess griffinias have really different seeds. Fleshy instead of paper. Maybe an epiphytic or lithophytic hippeastrum species would be more compatible?

Or maybe Griffinia crosses are possible, but only with plants of compatible ploidy? I'd kill to try a cross with a G. Hyacinthia. They're the largest of the Griffinia genus. They're even harder to lay hands on than Worsleya, unfortunately.

Debbie, Where are you located? Worsleya love days in the 80s and nights in the 50s or 60s….a nice drop in temp like they get in the mountains they come from. Worsleya seed are very thick and tough, not like Hippis at all for the most part. I've never paid attention to chromosome number on these but I'm sure others have and can comment. I grow mine in volcanic cinder. I sort of like the fact it breaks down just a touch over time (years) and there are lots of minerals there that the plants in Hawaii seem to like.

I found Griffinia tougher as they seem to like the opposite….warm and humid conditions like they see around Rio where many live. I had a ton of them but sold them all after I killed a few and realized they were not suited to my conditions.

I'd personally wait until next spring to get one if I lived in the north….that way they can hang out all summer and get acclimated and grow well before going inside for the winter. Good luck :o) Dan

Dan, I'm in Phoenix, AZ... its too hot for Worsleya outside other than spring and fall, would have to be in my living room with my other houseplants, southern exposure. I think I can provide suitable conditions.. temp in the house is around 78 - 80. we're moving to NE Alabama in four years, where temps will be more suitable. i'll also have a greenhouse when we move... i'll look at Griffinia, might can grow it in my bathroom where I grow my orchids... glass block window, southern exposure and humidity. spring and fall is excellent weather here, even winter might work to put the plant outside under the patio. I'm still doing my homework... I won't be buying till next spring because of shipping (either too cold or too hot to ship). i'll look into volcanic cinders as a medium. I have read that pumice works well. thanks for all the information, its much appreciated...

Debbie

Hi Debbie, Funny, I am interviewing in Phoenix in a couple of weeks. Worsleya can take 40F at night no problem at all….I keep mine outside until mid to late October here as long as we do not drop in to the 30s…..honestly, your temps in Nov and Feb would be wonderful for them and Dec, Jan, would likely be no problem other than when the temps drop in to the 30s at night. If I was there I would leave mine outside the entire winter unless they were obviously protesting in a big way….maybe bring them in on the cold nights. I'm thinking June-Sept they would have to be inside there to protect them against the extreme heat…..I'd love to have a conservatory there so they could be in front of windows all summer and then outside in the fall-spring.

Do you know anyone that grows South African bulbs there? Things like Boophane, Ammocharis, Ledebouria, Haemanthus, etc?

I lived in Birmingham, AL for 4 years in the early to mid 90s….very humid to say the least.

I may have one available next spring if mine do well over the winter and I need to get rid of some :o) Dan

Dan, a lotta things will grow here in the desert - just have to add that missing ingredient (water)... I don't know anyone personally that is growing African bulbs here, but any heat loving plant will do fine here, although most plants that say "full sun" will need some dappled or full shade during summer... I grow my amaryllis in pots outside year round, some in full sun. Take a look in the Garden Web Arizona Forum for ideas. nice folks in that forum, very helpful. We'll be retiring in Northeast Alabama, in the Appalachian foothills. Worsleya should do ok in that area. you're right - they can probably stay outside here until temps get too high for them... we have some nights that get into the 30's, and might have a light frost four or five times during the winter. I really want to try to grow them. I'm still reading all I can about them. i'll keep an eye out in the yahoo forum, also on ebay. maybe i'll find something next spring. I hope your interview goes well. will be a lot different than PA...... get out and enjoy the weather while you're here - its really nice now. please keep me in mind if you have any "extras" next year.

Debbie

Ok, but point is, Griffinia seeds still look totally different from Worsleya seeds. They look more like tiny fully fleshed white bulbs. Worsleya may be more closely related to Griffinia, but their seeds are closer in appearance to Hippeastrum than Griffinia.

i'll have to research how to grow Griffinia. Never heard of them before, but they are pretty.

Yeah, you are right…..my Griffinia produced lots of little pea-like seed. They are very pretty and in AL they should do well outside for sure with the high humidity.

It is also a shame that Worsleya have never been able to be put in to TC, despite a lot of efforts from people. I sent about 100 seed to a person I know in India and maybe 50 or so to a person in Germany that both did a lot of TC of tons of plants and they also failed. I'm just glad they have become relatively easy to grow these days and are now out there for people to try.

Phoenix would be so different from here - not sure I am ready for that :o) Dan

hehehehe....Dan....it's a "dry" heat!

Dan, you'll get used to PHX. you'll like the lack of humidity. I moved here from the gulf coast of Alabama, and I like it here, but I'm tired of the summer heat. can't wait to get a greenhouse. I've started amaryllis seedlings. need to buy another couple cybister bulbs... and hopefully will have a healthy worsleya to add to the group :-)

Debbie

Definitely let me know if anyone finds reasonable prices on worsleyas, too...or if anyone gets some seeds or seedlings they're willing to part with ;)

sorceresslelia, i'll let you know if I find anything. really expensive on ebay, but that might be the only option for getting a seedling... I've never grown one either, but sure do wanna try them... they're just gorgeous and unique.. might be a good idea to wait till next spring to purchase - don't wanna risk it freezing during shipment. I'm gonna get as much info as possible concerning worsleya care over the winter

Debbie

If any of mine flower and set seed I will let people know, but since they just got transplanted a month ago I am not counting on them doing anything this winter to be honest. Seed on the Yahoo forum are typically $5 each just so you know….better than ebay, but they are to easy to sell to charge less than that. Good Luck :o) Dan

Be careful what you buy on e-bay, some are using pictures of this species and I think may be selling hybrid Hippeastrum.

thanks Josh, that was my reason for wanting to buy from some of you folks... I trust ya'll more than I do ebay sellers.

Dan, I would pay $5 per seed, just so you know in the future... (hint - hint)...LOL

ya'll have a nice weekend... don't eat too much candy...

Debbie

You can never eat too much of the kids candy!

Come on Josh, do you mean to say that on ebay anyone would use someone else's photos to sell their plants….can't trust anyone these days :o) Dan

I'm gonna hold out till next spring before I make an order, and hopefully i'll get an honest seller.

Happy Halloween everyone!!

Debbie

Dan, where do you get you your cinder? Repotme doesn't carry it.

I get my cinder from Suncatchersofhilo.com No, I have no affiliation with them, no I get nothing for suggesting them. I've gotten cinder from them for the past 10 years for some of my plants, they always ship in a timely manner, etc, etc so I keep buying from them, simple as that. When it comes in it will have fine cinder ash (dirt) as well as the rocks….I wash the fines off using a colander from my lovely wife's kitchen (no, I did not give it back from her :o) and then use it straight. During the summer they get watered every day in this potting soil and in the winter they get watered every 2nd day unless I'm not around and then every 3 days if I can get to them. In the winter they get fertilized in this when I remember….I'm motivated now at the beginning so they are getting fertilized every week…..when I get tired of it in another few weeks it will drop to once month….I'd suggest not being like me….do it every week. Good luck with your babies :o) Dan

Dear Dan, do you use the finer bits or the larger chunks? Sorry Ididn't quite understand. I'm guessing "fines".

Kristi, The fines get washed out from the rest in the colander….I keep the "chunks"….they are in general 1/8 to 1/4" in size….the stuff that gets washed out will be like fine dirt…it will be really obvious when you get it - I hope :o) Dan

Thanks...ordering tomorrow,

Does anyone have any pictures of just the dormant Worsleya bulbs? A friend sent me a bulb of a supposedly "Blue Amaryllis" because she knew I always wanted one. I sorta doubt that is what this is but would rather pot it up on the safe side, if possible.

Thanks for any help!

Nancy

Nancy, as a person told me 10 years ago when I first got mine, a Worsleya without leaves is a dead Worsleya! Worsleya do NOT go dormant ever as they are completely evergreen. If yours does not have leaves it is either because the person cut them off (no idea why they would do that) or it is not a Worsleya (the likely answer) or of course it is a Worsleya that is no longer with us. If the leaves were cut off the bulb looks very distinct as it has a very obvious basal plate that the leaves grow from and a long neck to the bulb…..you can look at the pics above to get an idea of what I mean. Best of luck :o) Dan

Thanks Dan! I agree it probably isn't a Worsleya but I was hoping there was a possibility. I should have clarified better. The bulb was sent to me by a friend in Canada so it has been cut off very short on the neck and roots were removed. However, it isn't dead as there is new growth beginning to push up out of the neck. Not much but enough that I know it is trying to grow. I guess I will just pot up as though it is one, just in case. The bulb shape looks a little off to be a hippie unless maybe a papilio. Oh well, I can always repot or plant in the ground later if it is a hippie.

It's the thought that counts. :)

Nancy

Hi Nancy, OK, so if it was shipped legally and the leaves and roots had to be cut off then maybe….again, it should have an obvious bulb neck if it is a Worsleya as there is no reason to cut that off for shipping. If it is a Worsleya then pot it in pure cinder or perlite or pumice (in perlite it might fall over easy until it gets new roots). I got in plants with no roots or leaves and if you put them on a heat mat in pure drainage material and water every couple of days then you will be amazed at how fast they grow new roots. The bulb and leaves look nothing like a Hippi so hopefully you have a very nice friend indeed! How large is the bulb in diameter? Best of luck :o) Dan

Nancy, is it possible that it is an Ixiolirion species? Many are sold as "Blue Amaryllis" or "Wild Blue Amaryllis", can you post a picture of the bulb?

Thanks Dan! Will do. The bulb is rather small...maybe 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Keep your fingers crossed!

Joshy, I looked up Ixiolirion and looking at the bulbs posted on Pacific Bulb Society they look nothing alike. Good thought though, thank you. I don't have a cell phone and the battery in my camera won't hold a charge so that is the reason I haven't posted a picture. :(

Nancy...trying to hang onto a glimmer of hope!

Nancy, I think that picture is actually of seed, here is a picture of Ixiolirion corms. http://allthingsplants.com/plants/photo/272875/

What does the new growing leaves look like?

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

I just can't tell and there are no visible leaves as yet. Just green beginning to emerge from the center of the bulb. The more I look at the bulb, the more I'm convinced it is not a Worsleya though. I am probably doomed to never have one. :(

Nancy, make sure you join that Worlseya group, I'm sure the opportunity will arise!

Hi Dan,

Sorry to post here but I don't have your email and can't send the message to you (no message button) on your profile page. I just would like to know if you still have some Worsleya seeding for sale? I would love to have a couple of them. Can you also ship to California? Thanks.

Themmie

Hi Themmie, I will take stock of what I have and if I want to get rid of any in the spring. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving :o) Dan

Dan-
Do you have any available plants?
--Caleb