James O'Neill Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 I haven't been growing U. reniformis or U. nelumbifolia long enough to know their growth patterns yet, but I was just wondering... Over the summer my nelumbifolia flowered well - 4 flower stalks were produced between June and August. It did not produce any leaves in the summer, yet at the moment it is busy growing plenty of leaves. This morning I have also just noticed 2 more flower stalks coming up on it. I grow it on a cool upstairs windowsill in the winter and in the greenhouse over the summer. I keep it always damp. Reniformis on the other hand grew all its leaves in the summer in the greenhouse. These leaves have since died back and only tubers remain in the moss. It is now up on the cool windowsill, kept rather dry, as one should do with reniformis. A week ago it pushed up a flower stalk which I am very pleased with. It also surprised me; I thought it might flower in the spring or summer rather than the winter. Is this normal, for nelumb to flower in summer and grow leaves in winter, and for reniformis to flower in the winter and grow leaves in the summer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenofeden Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 reniformis has a definate winter dormancy. For me it flowers just after the first leaves in spring. nelumbifolia flowers all summer, cant remember precisely but I think it mainly produces leaves early summer, and stolons later summer. you are keeping it warmish in the house so it probably thinks it's spring! it is hardy to near freezing at least...it does not have water storage structures like renifomis which suggests it does not experience seasonal drought in the wild, perhaps you would expect this as it grows in bromeliads... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James O'Neill Posted January 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Thanks Stephen. The room I am keeping them in is really quite cool, but maybe still warm enough for them to believe that it is not winter. The reniformis flowering is still a bit puzzling... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fernando Rivadavia Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 U.reniformis is so variable because it grows in such a wide variety of habitats, latitudes and altitudes. So it really depends where your plants are from. Good luck, Fernando Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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