Gloriosa growing and care

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I get quite a lot of interest in my Gloriosa photos, and as it looks so exotic people assume that it must be tricky – it’s not!

Planting; As far as the medium goes I just use ordinary multipurpose compost with nothing added. My only stipulation is that it must smell “clean”. Plant on their sides about 50mm deep in a largish pot. The end of March is a good time to plant up. For the first and second year (when I had one and then two tubers) a 30cm diameter/deep pot was sufficient. This year I have four tubers, so its now 40cm.
Before covering, mark safe areas (I use bamboo cut to 15/20cm) where it will be safe (ie not where the tubers are) to put canes in for support later.

After planting, water in and keep the pot in a warm room or conservatory. On warm days (such as today) put them out in the sun. Water only occasionally from the top until you see signs of life, but keep them in a reasonably deep saucer which you top up with tepid water every day or two.

At some point you will have to provide support – how you do this is up to you, but bear this in mind; G.superba will grow up to eight foot high in a good season, G.rothschildiana four to five foot.

From May onwards, it should be safe to leave them out at night too, although keep an eye out for nights where the temperature does dip (eight centigrade is a ballpark) and bring them in if needed.
Try to protect from winds and heavy rainfall at all times. You may have to help the tendrils on the leaves find each other sometimes too, as the stem doesn’t tend to twist itself around the support.
As far as watering goes, give them plenty of water. But once a month I’ll allow mine to get to the point of drooping before watering. This seemed to produce more flowers for me.
Feeding? If I remember! You’ll only use this soil for a season, but they did get a couple of feeds with Chempax no.3 (20/20/20).
As far as light goes, the books say to shade from the midday sun, but this is not an option that I have.

Mid September is when I withdraw water. When the leaves go brown I cut the stems.
Before the frosts arrive bring them indoors. The pot can sit in the conservatory or any other airy room until the soil has thoroughly dried out, at which point it can go under the stairs, in the spare room, bottom of the wardrobe or wherever for the winter.

Which brings us to this time of year again. Lift the tubers and discard the soil. Clean them up, divide the new tubers from the old (it’s ok to snap them apart) and return to the top of this page!

It is that easy!

My Gloriosa photos are here>>

• 25 Mar, 2011
• 11 likes

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