Last week my first Disa came into full bloom, unusually early. Disa orangeade is a new variety from Alba Labs in South Africa. This plant was grown on and purchased from Germany. It is short and stubby in growth and like other early blooms I have seen before on the Net, has appeared peloric and upward facing. It will be interesting to see weather subsequent blooms are the same. Last year I had Orangeade and Safron showing the same growth pattern i.e. short and stubby Orangeade didn't survive but the offsets I saved from Safron seem to be growing normally this year. It will be interesting to see if the plants are mutant or weather it was the flasking/growing on methods that caused these problems. It would be interesting to hear if anyone else has had similar problems.
I have increased my Disa collection to 30+ varieties and hope to produce more seed this year.
Last years germinated seedlings are doing well and beginning to put on growth as the day length increases. Best results seem to have come from sowing on moss but sand and peat/perlite has worked as well. Moss growth and green jelly like growths on the peat have been a problem. There was a noticeable difference in the germination rates between those seeds sown immediately after harvesting and those sown a month later.
It would be nice if any other Disa growers are reading this Blog if they would get in touch via the e-mail link. Pollen swaps or seed swaps could be organised during this season.
