Growing Gardens

with Anita Morton

Storm Chasers

At this time of year, one good thunderstorm is all it takes to bring out a mass flowering of the delightful, and aptly named, Storm Lilies. Zephyranthes, to give them their botanical name, are small-growing bulbs that do very well in our climate. Indeed, it is one of the few genuses of bulbs that will reliably produce a good show of colour for us in late summer and autumn.

The common species are Z. rosea, with rose-pink flowers up to 8cm across, and Z. candida, with smaller, white flowers. The yellow-blooming Z. citrinus is also quite common in cultivation.

This is quite a large genus, with about forty different species, and you will occasionally also be able to find Storm Lilies with scented white flowers, small, copper-coloured blooms, cream or soft pink flowers. Specialist bulb suppliers sometimes offer seed of these species.

Zephyranthes aren't particularly fussy about soil, though you will get best results by planting them in a reasonably fertile spot. Once they are in the ground - and they can be moved about even when in full flower - leave them alone. They will increase rapidly by bulb offsets and seed, and will flower best when the clumps are a bit congested.

Either full sun or partial shade suits the Storm Lilies. They will also tolerate a light frost, but really appreciate a warmer site within the garden, for they are native to the West Indies and the subtropical part of South America.

Zephyranthes make a great path-edging plant, as they will only grow 15 to 35 cm tall, depending on the species. They also do well in pots, which can be brought inside for brief periods so that the flowers can be admired. They are at their best in daylight, as all species close their flowers in the evening.

Lismore Garden Club News

Don't forget our first Garden Club meeting will be held on Thursday, February 3, at the Lismore Workers Club from 1.30pm. If you like gardening, plants and people why not come along? There is an interesting itinerary for our club social outing on Tuesday, February 15, when we will visit the Pine Grove bromeliad nursery at Wardell and also The House with No Steps nursery at Alstonville where will enjoy Devonshire morning tea in the restaurant. Visitors are most welcome. We will travel in our own cars. Morning tea is $4 per head. For further info, please phone Ron on 6624 7422.

Have you wished that you had a small shade house in the backyard so that you could rotate the houseplants to revitalise them? There's not doubt that a shade house is the ideal environment to propagate a few cuttings or even grow a few orchids.

There is a couple of ways you can go about it. You can buy one in kit form and assemble it. This is probably the quickest and easiest way. Alternatively, if you are a handy person (or know someone who is), you can save quite a bit by using recycled hardwood or galvanised pipe and building it yourself.

Once you have decided which way you will precede, the most important factor is the location of the shade house. If at all possible locate it so that it gets sunshine for most of the day. In our climate it's best to use 70% shade, knitted shade cloth. It's simple to fit a watering system using black poly pipe and fitting. You can use blue metal gravel or something similar on the floor. This will help to create the moist, humid environment that plants enjoy.

Happy gardening
Ron Burns