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This family interests me from the
annual bedding nasturtiums to the climbing and
scrambling perennials.
I have at the moment eight varieties of the perennials
and I find some of them a real challenge to bring into
leaf. Their natural habitat is Chile and Argentina, so
most experience some cold dry winter months. This little
beauty, tricololorum, has been in full flower since the
beginning of February in a cold greenhouse sharing the
space with alpines.
I use a soil based compost with about a ⅓
grit added. The first sign of life is usually about
middle to end of December. I treat it as a normal pot
plant, feeding it at half strength every two weeks
during its growing season. The foliage starts to die
back about the end of May when I repot the corm for its
summer slumber and no water is used when dormant. When
you have this little gem, the winter months are never
dull or drab.
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