Monday, November 5, 2007

HOFFMANIAS


HOFFMANIAS ARE AMONG THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLANTS ON EARTH WITH GORGEOUS, "RIDGEY" LEAVES, BUT IT IS HARD TO FIND A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THEM ALMOST NOTHING ON THE INTERNET, STRANGELY; AND EVEN THE PLANTS ARE NOT SO EASY TO COME BY. THEY ARE NATIVE TO MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA, WHICH TELLS YOU HOW MUCH HEAT AND HUMIDITY THEY LIKE TO DO WELL. THEY ALSO LIKE TO BE FED; AND IF TRIED IN THE GROUND IN THE APPROPRIATE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS, THEY MUST HAVE VERY WELL DRAINED SOIL. HOFFMANIAS ARE ALLEGED TO BE EASY TO PROPAGATE AS THEY GROW WELL IN THE HOT WEATHER; BUT IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, A LOT OF STEMS DO NOT ROOT--EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TRIED VARIOUS MEANS OF PROPAGATION. THERE IS A VARIEGATED PLANT CALLED HOFFMANIA "STRAWBERRY SPLASH" IN SOME SOURCES, "FANTASIA" IN OTHER SOURCES. IT IS TRULY SPECTACULAR! ONE SPECIES OF THE GENUS MAKES AN EXCELLENT GROUND COVER IN WARM, HUMID GREENHOUSES (I HAVE SEEN IT GROWN THIS WAY IN GLASSHOUSES ON THE NC STATE CAMPUS IN RALEIGH.)THIS IS A PLANT THAT NEEDS TO BE MUCH BETTER KNOWN AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE LOOKING INTO TISSUE CULTURE POSSIBILITIES.

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