Re: D. peltata questions

John Taylor (rphjt@minyos.xx.rmit.EDU.AU)
Sun, 16 Apr 1995 16:32:02 +1000

To: Multiple recipients of list <cp@opus.hpl.hp.com>

>I had three of these growing in a small pot, and for
>the longest time they consisted only of small rosettes
>similar to D. spathulata. One month ago all three
>rosettes sent up the characteristic tall growth that
>D. peltata is known for. At the tops of these are
>small flower buds, but they never seem to open. I can
>see a slight bit of the reddish-purple petals, but
>nothing more.
>
> 1) Is this normal?
>
> 2) Does D. peltata self-pollinate?

I've only grown D. auriculata (which is a sub-species of D. peltata now?)
and have never had problems with flowering or obtaining viable seed - I don't
pollinate them, so I assume they are self-pollinating to some extent.

>Now, the problems. One of the plants died back a week
>ago, and the others look as though they're doing the same.
>It started with the basal rosette, which turned black
>slowly until the whole thing was gone. The tall stem
>followed very quickly afterwards. That left only
>two in the pot, and now I see those rosettes starting
>to turn brown. Is the plant very sensistive to over-
>watering when it's growing? Or is this how the
>plant dies back perennially?

The D. peltata I've seen in the wild (in The Grampians in Victoria) were in
sandy soil on top of a ridge - fairly dry surface, maybe slightly moist to
damp underneath. I would never grow these in a water tray. (D. auriculata
seems to prefer damp-wet conditions) My auriculata plants tend to brown-off
then blacken from the top down - many don't have the basal rosette by the
time they're flowering. I'd suggest you let your pot dry out now, and hope
they come up again next season...

BFN

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| John Taylor [Catweasel] | Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology |
| rphjt@minyos.xx.rmit.edu.au | Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA |
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