Plant Doctor Archive

Tecophilaea cyanocrocus

I HAVE a problem with the South American bulb Tecophilaea cyanocrocus. In 1990 I started out with one bulb, because of its rarity and expense (I paid about $20 for it). It flowered for several years then stopped, however it has increased, so I now have a large clump with many, many bulbs growing in a pot. Unfortunately, none of them ever flower. I have tried placing the pot in full sun and partial shade and changing the potting mix from a slightly dry/sandy mix to a heavier/moist mix without any improvement. Can you suggest anything I could do to get them to flower?

SADLY, this bulb is - at best - a shy flowerer. To improve your chances of success, ensure the bulbs are planted at least 5cm deep and 5cm apart in a sandy soil mix. They should never be allowed to dry out, even during their dormant period. Powdered cow manure added to the pot will also help encourage them to flower.

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH.