Alonsoa Summer Flower
It takes nearly four months for a small Alon-soa seed to grow into a flowering plant, presumably the reason why the various species are rarely seen in gardens. That is a pity, because alonsoas are colorful, decorative jewels which can be brought into flower at the oddest of times. By sowing in summer, you caneven bring them into flower in mid-winter. Professional growers sow very early in the year or in autumn to produce flowering plants in April and May. For private plant lovers, however, it is better to sow in early March, either indoors or in a heated greenhouse. Cover the seeds very lightly or not at all, because alonsoas germinate in daylight. The ideal temperature for germination is around 66 °F, at which most of the seed will come up within 2 weeks. To ensure attractive branching, it is best to pinch out the growing tips several times during the following four months. The plants are moved out-of-doors from mid-May and may then begin to flower from the end of June. The flowering season is usually long and may be extended by cutting back hard during intervals in flowering.
Alonsoas come mainly from the wester mountains of South America, especially froi Colombia, Peru, and Chili, where the air i cool and fresh. They like a lot of sun, but do not care for real heat. It is therefore best to grow them in pots or in the ground in a sunny but airy spot, in well-drained soil that is not excessively dry.
