Victoria Longwood

[janek]

Tim you have got me extremely interested!  I really want to try my hand at learning how to grow one.  I need to spend the winter reading up.  Do I have a chance to give one a try here in Massachusetts?  What is the easiest Vic to try first?

[PondmaninAL]

Janek, I'm not Tim but I can tell you my point of view. V. cruziana was easier than I thought it would be but it has to be pampered a bit until it gets to size. I have mine in a 5-gallon pot and the pads got up to 28" in diameter. It has a spread of 8-10' and if you are not careful, you can rip other lilies pads apart with the Victoria pad. Also, keep band-aids and peroxide near by as the thorns are sharp. Tim, Vickie, and myself are the ones that I know have grew them this year in this forum. Me and Vickie grew V. cruziana and Tim grew the Victoria hybrid, "Longwood" which I think he said was more tolerable to the cooler temps. I'm going to try "Longwood" next year as it has that nice burgundy underside that shows on the rim.

[janek]

Thanks Scott - I definately want to try to grow one.  Got to take the challenge.   Any good places to find good information on growing these?  Where is the best place to get either seeds or starter plant?

[Craig]

If I may jump in here, without a doubt the best place for information on Victoria cultivation is to be found at the web site www.victoria-adventure.org .  Plan to spend some time there, as there is so much info to absorb.

What you will also find there is the form you can use to request free Victoria seed....you just have to pay for postage.  The seed is pedigreed...the only such seed in the country...and yours for the asking, assuming you are willing to abide by some restrictions on use.

Should you be looking for plants, the site also has a list of growers/retailers that sell plants certified to be true to type and you are provided with the lot number so you can trace their lineage.  This eliminates the risk of getting mislabeled plants or F2 generation plants being passed off as 'Longwood Hybrids', or worse.  Once again the site is the only one offering sources for certified, pedigreed plants.

Hope this helps.

[PondmaninAL]

Yeah, what Craig said.

Thanks Craig.

[janek]

Thanks so much!  That's exactly the info I was looking for.   I have spent the last 8 years absorbed in growing live marine coral, plants and fish in my reef tank which has been a science in itself.    Now I'm  really looking forward to this new challenge!  I'm going to check that website out- read as much as I can and earn that vic seed! 

[PondmaninAL]

Janice, the next seed will given out sometime in November. So while you wait, read, read, read! That's what I did.

[janek]

Thanks Scott - I've registered on the site and spent a few hours there so far. I noticed that the seed form isn't available until November so that will give me time to read up. 

[PondmaninAL]

Janek, you registered for the mailing list? That's great! There is some great info there plus some great folks. Like me!