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Gazania Species
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Galtonia
It is also called summer hyacinth and the name Galtonia is named after Sir Francis Galton. Galtonia plants native is South Africa. This plant is of bulb and perennial type. It will grow erect and can grow up to the height of 1.2m and can spread to 25cm. It consists of a strap leaves with tall stems and produce white or pale green bell shaped flowers depending upon its species. These flowers will be fresh for more than a week hence well suited for showy flowers and it will be more impressive when grown in groups. This plant is well suited to grown both in garden and container. Its flower blooms in the month of midsummer to early autumn and both galtonia candicans and galtonia viridiflora requires a warm sunny location and in winter the plants must be covered in order to protect them from winter frost. It has a pleasant fragrance. Good and well drained soil is suitable for its planting. It will shed all its leaves and remain without leaves in winter.
Cultivation : Galtonia plants are very easy to grow with the help of bulb or seed but planting with seeds will take nearly 5 years to flower. Plant the bulb in the soil in such a way that the top of the bulb is just under the surface of the soil. You can also plant n number of bulbs together in the soil each of 10 to 20 cm apart. More care should be taken for finding location for planting this type of plant; the soil must be fertile and must be well draining and also the soil should be moist in spring and summer. Soil must be well drainage in order to prevent the bulb from decay and damage. It can also be grown in containers. The soil or container where the Galtonia planted must consist of large number of rooms in order spread its growth. While growing the plant through container it is very necessary for the addition of fertilizers for the better growth of plant but as already said growing through container will take several years to flower.
Regularly water the plant till blooming period and excess watering must be avoided, hence it lead to bulb decay and there must be few days gap between watering. Bulbs must be dry in winter till growth starts and never pick bulbs in winter and also feed Galtonia plants with bulb food occasionally. This plant can be left undisturbed in the same position for many years for best result. In cold areas the bulbs can be brought inside, it can also be left outside when covered by mulch which must be removed when plant starts to grow in spring. The mulch may be any organic material.
Propagation : Galtonia can be propagated by dividing bulbs after flowering. Bulbs are lifted during winter season and it is divided and in early spring it should be replanted. Galtonia can also be propagated from seed; we can use freshly harvested seed to grow galtonia plant. In case of using seed, sow seed in a container. It should begin to grow in a single month and in second season it will produce flowers. This galtonia plant last for at least three seasons.
Varieties : There are mainly two basic varieties of galtonia; they are galtonia candicans and galtonia viridiflora.
Galtonia candicans Its common name is summer hyacinth and spire lily. It can grow to 3ft to 6ft height. This species can able to survive in zone 6 through 10 and it requires a soil with good drainage capability and a sunny location. This plant will flower in white colour and these flowers are well suitable for cut flowers. England and America cultivate galtonia candicans type of plant. It can be propagated by dividing bulbs and then by replanting it in late spring and it can even grow from seeds. But growth by seed will take several years to bloom. It requires only moderate maintenance.
Galtonia viridiflora It can grow up to 3ft and spread 1ft to 2ft and requires moist soil. And it flowers in pale green colour. It can also be grown in soil and also in container. Either bulbs or seed can be used to grow it and should be protected from winter using mulch as in case of Galtonia candicans. Its cultivation and propagation are similar to that of Galtonia candicans.
Disease and Cure : Wide-range fungicide must be used before the growth of bud in order to prevent the plant from fungal diseases which spreads very easily throughout the plant when left unseen and cause damage to whole plant. Use insecticide as a preventive measure in spring when flower doesn’t bloom due to temperature rise.
Excess water supply will cause the bud to rotten and plant get spoiled, hence appropriate amount of water should to supplied with an adequate days of gap between watering.
Galtonia plants are generally free from pest and diseases and check slug and snail formation in plant, hence it will destroy the plant very easily but its formation is very rare in case of Galtonia plant.