I have a question for anyone the may have grown these beautiful plants. I purchased quite a few rhizomes this past spring and seeds which have done well. The tubers where started at different times and most of them grew quite well as it seemed, but soon started to take a turn (leaves became mottled and began to fade). I decided to take them out of there pot, not knowing whether they would even be there and suprisingly enough they where not rotten and infact some looked even plumper than when planted out ( only roots on the one that had grown). Just curious if anyone has had experience with these and could shed some light on my dilemma. I had read that they required a good length of time of dormantcy? Would have assumed that they where in that state when purchased. Thanks for any help.
No expert help from me, just personal experience in a very different climate. My Gloriosa rothschildiana vines are starting to fade a bit early this year I think. Mine are now growing in fairly deep shade, in poor sand, and competing with other plants. They surprised me this year with blooms, two vines had three blooms between them. (No blooms for maybe seven years?) And somehow, I have what may be viable seed with red fleshy fruit coating. The vines start to fade out at the end of their season by yellowing and then browning from the bottom up. While my plants have been through drought before, it's been pretty hot and dry with relative humidity around 90%. What I'm seeing looks to me just like the end of summer appearance. If your rhizomes are healthy, I wouldn't worry about it. Just be sure to not keep them in deep shade if you want blooms each year. My sparse blooms may be the result of the croton they were surrounding being frosted to the ground, kicking up the ambient light just a bit.
