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Griffinia liboniana - the "mini Worsleya"

From the rainforests of Brazil - or what's left of them - comes this rarely seen gem, Griffinia liboniana.  Closely related to the rare Worsleya, the legendary "blue Amaryllis", its blooms are almost a miniature version of it.  Even without flowers, it sparkles with its gorgeous spotted leaves!  Unlike Worsleya, it is very easy to grow.  Unfortunately the plant is critically endangered in the wild due to deforestation, so it is facing extinction.

Griffinia liboniana - the "mini Worsleya"

The cultivar i grow is unusually robust, with leaves from 8 to 11 inches long, and large, deeply-colored blooms.  The plants tend to flower multiple times per year, not just once like many Amaryllis relatives.  Each flower stalk is about 8 to 10 inches tall, with 6 to 9 blooms per stalk.  The flower color is a glowing bluish-purple blending to white — truly exquisite.  The plant occasionally goes semi-dormant for a month or two, before bursting forth with its wonderfully spotted leaves!  It multiplies readily with bulblets, eventually forming a nice-sized colony.  

Griffinia liboniana

This Griffinia is very easy to grow.  Optimal temperatures are between 60 and 90 degrees F (15-33 degrees C).  It will go dormant if exposed to frost, but i recommend protecting it from temperatures near freezing.  Fortunately it grows great indoors as a houseplant.  It does well in a small pot in fertile, well-draining soil.  A typical soil mix is 3 parts potting soil to 2 parts perlite or coarse sand.  Keep the soil evenly moist (but not soggy) and feed it like a typical houseplant.  In the wild, it grows under dense forest cover, so it is happiest in bright shade.  Protect it from prolonged sun exposure.  You'll be surprised how easy and low-maintenance this plant is!  Over about 40% humidity is best.

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Tips on planting the bulb

 

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Turquoise Puya

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