Dyckia blooming
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Dyckia blooming
I've had D. marnier lapostollei bloom twice now, and a D. Gray Ops bloom last year, but this is the first time I have 2 that are blooming at the same time. One has a stalk with yet unopened flowers, the other is starting out.
If the one can hang on, and the other get a move on, perhaps I can get some seeds for the first time.
Dyckia Tarzana Dyckia Keswick You can see the noticeable growth of the spike with these 2 photos taken only 3 days apart These are not the original Bill Baker hybrids (I have the originals also, and they are not exactly the same), but the facsimiles floating around sold as such. Still, nice looking plants in my opinion, and would be interesting to try out my very first pollination/cross of Dyckia between these two, and see if I can come up with seeds.
If the one can hang on, and the other get a move on, perhaps I can get some seeds for the first time.
Dyckia Tarzana Dyckia Keswick You can see the noticeable growth of the spike with these 2 photos taken only 3 days apart These are not the original Bill Baker hybrids (I have the originals also, and they are not exactly the same), but the facsimiles floating around sold as such. Still, nice looking plants in my opinion, and would be interesting to try out my very first pollination/cross of Dyckia between these two, and see if I can come up with seeds.
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Re: Dyckia blooming
An update
Dyckia Keswick F2... I'm hoping some flowers will open before the below stalk is finished Dyckia Tarzana F2... lower flowers open, upper flowers still closed And now I see another one getting into the act. Dyckia Brittle Star F2... this is starting to color up again and should turn a lot more purple in the following months hard to tell exactly, but there are 2 developing stalks pushing their way out of that mess...
Dyckia Keswick F2... I'm hoping some flowers will open before the below stalk is finished Dyckia Tarzana F2... lower flowers open, upper flowers still closed And now I see another one getting into the act. Dyckia Brittle Star F2... this is starting to color up again and should turn a lot more purple in the following months hard to tell exactly, but there are 2 developing stalks pushing their way out of that mess...
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Re: Dyckia blooming
Nice!
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Dyckia blooming
Thanks Ron.
Some updated photos..
D. Brittle Star F2 stalks have broken through the crown of thorns D. Keswick F2 stalk now 2 feet tall D. Tarzana F2 flower progress
Some updated photos..
D. Brittle Star F2 stalks have broken through the crown of thorns D. Keswick F2 stalk now 2 feet tall D. Tarzana F2 flower progress
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Re: Dyckia blooming
Looking good! The Tarzana F2 is quite nice - does it not offset frantically? I have not yet had the opportunity to buy any that were not prolific to the point of being a gnarled mess.
Ever tasted the nectar? It is surprisingly vile.
Ever tasted the nectar? It is surprisingly vile.
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Re: Dyckia blooming
Thanks.
So far, the Tarzana has been a modest offsetter, unlike the Keswick which pups more. I have 2 (F2); 1 acquired under the correct name (Tarzana), and one with an often seen corrupted name (Tarzan). To date, only 2 pups from each, so the plant stays rather clean looking. I also have the original Bill Baker Tarzana, which looks very much the same as the F2s, but hasn't pupped (yet), and may not if it's similar to the difference between the original Bill Baker Keswick, and the F2 versions floating around. With Keswick original vs F2, one can see more visual difference between the two, with more distinct coloring on the original, and more delicate leaves that don't start as wide at the base as the F2 tapering towards the ends. But the original Keswick doesn't pup at all, but rather divides, whereas the F2 pups prolifically. Within this next year, I may find that this difference is consistent with Tarzana as well. The original Bill Baker versions of each came from a well known Bromeliad grower in Florida, who got hers directly from Bill Baker before he passed away.
I haven't tasted the nectar, but based on your experience, it's less likely now that I will. lol
So far, the Tarzana has been a modest offsetter, unlike the Keswick which pups more. I have 2 (F2); 1 acquired under the correct name (Tarzana), and one with an often seen corrupted name (Tarzan). To date, only 2 pups from each, so the plant stays rather clean looking. I also have the original Bill Baker Tarzana, which looks very much the same as the F2s, but hasn't pupped (yet), and may not if it's similar to the difference between the original Bill Baker Keswick, and the F2 versions floating around. With Keswick original vs F2, one can see more visual difference between the two, with more distinct coloring on the original, and more delicate leaves that don't start as wide at the base as the F2 tapering towards the ends. But the original Keswick doesn't pup at all, but rather divides, whereas the F2 pups prolifically. Within this next year, I may find that this difference is consistent with Tarzana as well. The original Bill Baker versions of each came from a well known Bromeliad grower in Florida, who got hers directly from Bill Baker before he passed away.
I haven't tasted the nectar, but based on your experience, it's less likely now that I will. lol
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Re: Dyckia blooming
Looks like I got my wish. The Tarzana still has flowers on top, while the Keswick (F2) has been opening for business at the bottom. This Keswick scape is unlike any of the others I've seen so far. First, it's huge...easily 4' tall. Also, there's a branch at the bottom, with a number of it's own flowers, and then an abbreviated branch directly above, with a flower and a couple of smaller flowers at the side of it, and then the rest of the stalk features the form and flowers I'm more accustomed to so far. The pollination is one-way, because for whatever reason, the Keswick doesn't seem to have any, but is dripping with nectar. On the other hand, the Tarzana is loaded with pollen falling off the flowers, and very little of detectable nectar. Hopefully, I'll get seed pod formation on the Keswick. Here's current pics of the unusual Keswick flowering.
Overview flowers - lower branch and odd shortened branch with large flower and small flowers at the side, with then normal flower formation successively higher on the stalk curious branching
Overview flowers - lower branch and odd shortened branch with large flower and small flowers at the side, with then normal flower formation successively higher on the stalk curious branching
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Re: Dyckia blooming
Hey, you aren't the only one swinging your Dyckia....
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Dyckia blooming
That's my scarecrow. Get it?
Seriously though, why is my Dyckia bloom stalk brown and kind of wooden while yours are green? I don't suppose that's an identifier of any kind...
Seriously though, why is my Dyckia bloom stalk brown and kind of wooden while yours are green? I don't suppose that's an identifier of any kind...
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Dyckia blooming
I like it (scarecrow).
I hadn't noticed that, but now that you pointed it out, I reviewed the only Dyckia blooms I experienced previously. Unfortunately, the three current blooms represents a full 1/2 of my total experience, and only now in total are 6 blooms among 5 different species and/or hybrids. Indeed, I don't see much variation in the green color of the stalk (initially), although I would say it is rather stout, and seems rather stiff and strong considering it's relatively thin diameter. I do make sure they get plenty of water, as I figure the energy spent to so quickly grow such an impressive flower structure considering the size of the plant must require adequate, constant hydration. Not sure if a factor such as that could account for the difference, nor do I know how much water yours is getting. Perhaps too it's completely normal due to being a different species/hybrid as mine which have bloomed so far. If memory serves though, I do believe the green does gradually darken and brown throughout the process when finally they are spent and drying up.
For your perusal, here were my previous three blooms
2014 Dyckia marnier lapostollei Same plant a year later - blooming again, but for whatever reason, nothing doing this year And this 'Gray Ops' which timing wise, was unexpected, blooming late last year
I hadn't noticed that, but now that you pointed it out, I reviewed the only Dyckia blooms I experienced previously. Unfortunately, the three current blooms represents a full 1/2 of my total experience, and only now in total are 6 blooms among 5 different species and/or hybrids. Indeed, I don't see much variation in the green color of the stalk (initially), although I would say it is rather stout, and seems rather stiff and strong considering it's relatively thin diameter. I do make sure they get plenty of water, as I figure the energy spent to so quickly grow such an impressive flower structure considering the size of the plant must require adequate, constant hydration. Not sure if a factor such as that could account for the difference, nor do I know how much water yours is getting. Perhaps too it's completely normal due to being a different species/hybrid as mine which have bloomed so far. If memory serves though, I do believe the green does gradually darken and brown throughout the process when finally they are spent and drying up.
For your perusal, here were my previous three blooms
2014 Dyckia marnier lapostollei Same plant a year later - blooming again, but for whatever reason, nothing doing this year And this 'Gray Ops' which timing wise, was unexpected, blooming late last year
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Re: Dyckia blooming
Curiosity got the best of me. In pollinating each morning, and getting the dripping nectar on my fingers from the Keswick F2, I decided to see for myself what it tastes like. I guess not all Dyckia nectar is equal, because this one is very sweet, like honey. Actually, very very good!Melt in the Sun wrote:Looking good! The Tarzana F2 is quite nice - does it not offset frantically? I have not yet had the opportunity to buy any that were not prolific to the point of being a gnarled mess.
Ever tasted the nectar? It is surprisingly vile.
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Re: Dyckia blooming
Dyckia Brittle Star F2 twin stalks progressing nicely, but dwarfed by the Keswick F2 stalk behind.
I'm always forgetting this plant is even here, since it's unattended and neglected off the beaten track. I just noticed that it's blooming too (D. brevifolia)
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Re: Dyckia blooming
I was going to start a new thread for dyckia blooms, then saw this one. Hope you don't mind me just adding on.
Rosette diameter on this one is about 18". I thought it might be Burgundy Ice, but it didn't flower orange so I'm back at square one for ID. These are 2 halves of the same plant. One is kept in the shade of a loquat tree, the other on the deck in half day sun. Does it look a little wet? It's 63°F today and we had a passing rain shower.
Rosette diameter on this one is about 18". I thought it might be Burgundy Ice, but it didn't flower orange so I'm back at square one for ID. These are 2 halves of the same plant. One is kept in the shade of a loquat tree, the other on the deck in half day sun. Does it look a little wet? It's 63°F today and we had a passing rain shower.
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Re: Dyckia blooming
Of course I don't mind.
That's a very lovely flowering one - I think yellow flowers are not very common on them, and I think they look very fetching. Against the purple foliage, it's very striking. Most of mine have been orange, although I too got a yellow this year, but it's almost done.
It's an obscure hybrid D. 'Whit Merrin #1 Silver' X remotifolia (lol) hard to see just how yellow like yours the flowers are (or were), because the lighting where the plant is in the daytime is not conducive for taking good pics.
Here it is anyway. Seed pods forming as I crossed it with a much more miniature (so far anyway) hybrid called 'Misty Night' X 'Keswick'. (and I highly doubt the real Keswick either - probably an F2) I think Dyckia flowers are super easy to pollinate. In the past, I've had seed pods form from only ants seen crawling on them. With a paint brush, pollen loads up very easily and easily transferred to another one.
That's a very lovely flowering one - I think yellow flowers are not very common on them, and I think they look very fetching. Against the purple foliage, it's very striking. Most of mine have been orange, although I too got a yellow this year, but it's almost done.
It's an obscure hybrid D. 'Whit Merrin #1 Silver' X remotifolia (lol) hard to see just how yellow like yours the flowers are (or were), because the lighting where the plant is in the daytime is not conducive for taking good pics.
Here it is anyway. Seed pods forming as I crossed it with a much more miniature (so far anyway) hybrid called 'Misty Night' X 'Keswick'. (and I highly doubt the real Keswick either - probably an F2) I think Dyckia flowers are super easy to pollinate. In the past, I've had seed pods form from only ants seen crawling on them. With a paint brush, pollen loads up very easily and easily transferred to another one.