The MGS Forum
Plants for mediterranean gardens => Perennials => Topic started by: Kriticat on June 30, 2016, 09:36:00 AM
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I planted several beautiful ruellia brittonia last year that flowered profusely from May until at least July.
This year they look glossy and healthy but only one has attempted flowering, nothing from the others..some are in shade, some in sun, some in clumps, one in a pot, one on it's own. ..all blind!
Any ideas?
Thanks in anticipation
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I think you may have to wait a little. Mine haven't started flowering yet either, but I'm sure they will - all of a sudden.
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My Ruellia brittoniana started to flower about 3 weeks ago. Today there are only a couple of flowers. Mine likes a lot of water. My Ruellia graecizans hasn't started flowering yet but at least it did survive the winter so it should flower sooner or later. Hope yours starts to flower soon.
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Thanks, hope you're right, but it's very late...they were definitely in full flower by the end of May last year. They all get plenty of water. I'd heard that overcrowding can make them blind but they are both planted singly and in clumps...so far just a couple of flowers on one of the clumps.
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I, too, was thinking mine are a bit shy in flowering this year.
They are flowering, but not up to their usual rate.
(But I am pleased and impressed at how well they strike as cuttings, in water or soil.)
Mike
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Further to my comment about cuttings rooting well...
Here's some examples; all rooted in water.
And they took to potting into soil without a hiccup (sometimes water-rooted cuttings with lots of root can't cope with being potted-up).
I'm tempted to try growing them hydroponically.
Note the fuzzy nodules in the third photo. Not sure what to make of them. I don't think they are root aphids or pathological. Might be beneficial microbial nodules?
Mike
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I agree with you, it looks as if the fuzzy stuff could be root nodules. These are more common in plants in the Fabaceae, but I saw at least one reference (http://www.fao.org/livestock/agap/frg/conf96.htm/rosales2.htm )saying that in another species in the Acanthaceae family, Trichanthera gigantea, nodules in the root zone have been observed, suggesting the association with mycorrhiza or other organisms, and indications that nitrogen fixation could occur in the root zone. This could explain the vigorous rooting of Ruellia that you have observed in water, and your idea of growing them hydroponically is maybe not so wild.
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Thanks Jorun,
If I do some work on Ruellia hydroponically, I shall report back.
I find Ruellia get rather leggy and ungainly. As well as cutting them back harder to keep this trait in check (hopefully), I think I will try rooting cuttings on their sides (laying them in a tray of water) - so, once planted in soil, new shoots will start from ground level. Well, it's just an idea...
Mike