2024 Update — the remaining plant after the division was shared with Tim offset a few more times so I split it into three pots this spring. Only one of the bulbs bloomed this year and there were no flowers last year. Likely the offsets will do better in their new soil and pots. 6.23.24

Today’s plant is really two plants. I purchased this Vetheimia bracteata from Sky Nursery about six years ago. I remember it was half-price, so that’s how I felt justified in purchasing it. It is a winter-grower, so it leafs out starting in November and then blooms in early spring. I pulled one of the larger offsets into its own pot several years ago with the intention of sharing it with brother Tim. That offset is finally growing really well and has a flower spike coming this year, so I will pass it on to Tim so he can enjoy the bloom.

These plants seem happy in a mix of 1/2 potting soil, 1/2 coarse sand. I keep them in trays and water from the bottom for most of the year, but they get sprinkled in the summer when I shower all the greenhouse plants. Despite being dormant at that time, they don’t seem to mind. I add fertilizer to the trays so that the water carries it to the roots with every water–just a general organic balanced feed in powder form. Sometimes I also add compost tea bags to the trays.

Below is a photo of the main plant spiking last year.

And here are photos of the plant in bloom from several years back:

For care, it seems like these need to be repotted about every three years and some offset removed, or a much larger pot used to hold them. I have them in clay pots to help ensure drainage doesn’t become a problem. Giving them steady water once they start into growth is important–they don’t need to be moist, but just watered somewhat regularly to support their growth and flowering.