cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
Nothing to it ,right? I mean they thrive on neglect.
Last year I purchased quite a few of these in mid Summer in hopes to actually try hybridization this year.
These are great harbingers of Spring.February is the time,possibly,these start to move a little.
As for protection from cold....not needed for most.All I do is protect with very loose plastic around 3/4 of the table in Winter to protect from rain.Also they do well in Summer under a piece of clear polycarbonate on my grow table.I just leave them under it year round in full sun,as some will scorch a bit in mid Summer.Water after bone dry only in growing season.Keep bone dry in cold months.I like to add a soluable fertilizer at least a few times at beginning of growing season.NEVER IF FROST IS PREDICTED!!They react dramatically to fertilizer,so only a few times or they will turn to green lettuce and flower and die after flowering.I use 50/50 good potting soil and grade#4 perlite.Need excellent drainage,so at least 50% chunkey aggregate.Also a very thin superficial drainage layer on top ,so there is less humidity around rosettes.
Mid Summer is best time to separate in their slight dormant state,and order them too.Else they may bloom instantly from disturbance at any other time.
Also,I am told they do not like chlorine.
These are great!
Here are random pictures from last year and their Winter location on the grow table.
Last year I purchased quite a few of these in mid Summer in hopes to actually try hybridization this year.
These are great harbingers of Spring.February is the time,possibly,these start to move a little.
As for protection from cold....not needed for most.All I do is protect with very loose plastic around 3/4 of the table in Winter to protect from rain.Also they do well in Summer under a piece of clear polycarbonate on my grow table.I just leave them under it year round in full sun,as some will scorch a bit in mid Summer.Water after bone dry only in growing season.Keep bone dry in cold months.I like to add a soluable fertilizer at least a few times at beginning of growing season.NEVER IF FROST IS PREDICTED!!They react dramatically to fertilizer,so only a few times or they will turn to green lettuce and flower and die after flowering.I use 50/50 good potting soil and grade#4 perlite.Need excellent drainage,so at least 50% chunkey aggregate.Also a very thin superficial drainage layer on top ,so there is less humidity around rosettes.
Mid Summer is best time to separate in their slight dormant state,and order them too.Else they may bloom instantly from disturbance at any other time.
Also,I am told they do not like chlorine.
These are great!
Here are random pictures from last year and their Winter location on the grow table.
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