Moraea is an evolving genus, and as Peter Goldblatt has recently told us, the Genus is again in need of Revision. I wish I could clone this good man, so he could get twice the work done.
I also hear what you write in mail, not everyone retains information at the same rate, and the cost of connecting weighs heavy on all our minds.
Though the Americans seem to have it fairly easy regarding connection costs.
A little re-capping is in order:
Moraea is a vast kaleidoscope and colourful genus containing perhaps 120 plus species. This species responds most favourably to cultivation by the knowing gardener. Seeds germinate fairly quickly, depending on which you plant, expect them up from the thirty eight day to forty eight day period.
Moraea species can be divided up into three distinct groups by the gardener.
Group one: Winter growing.
Group Two: Summer growing.
Group three: Evergreen.
Propagation is by offsets and seeds. Divide the off sets when dormant from groups one and two, and for group three, divide directly after the flowering period, and replant immediately.
Group one seeds are sown in the Fall ( Autumn ). Groups two and three seeds of these are sown in Spring.
This grouping is mine, a way to remember; it's not at all very Botanical.
Again, might I point out, that it is very hard to advise folks from different climates which Moraea to grow and flower. If you are in a cold snow area or heavy frost, ground freezes overnight area; you will have to consider the following.
In general the summer flowering species would be best suited for cold regions. These can take temperatures down to around - 9 to 10C which is - 14F.
Ones beyond these will of course need protection, as does anything grown outside of their normal temperature range.
In cultivation Moraea demand a bright sunny open position. The growing medium should be well drained and when your plants are in active growth; keep the water up to them. Corms should be planted two to three times as deep as their diameter, then watered sparingly and kept moist once they begin to sprout. Whether growing in the ground or in pots, never allow the roots to get too wet. In hotter regions keeping your corms dry when dormant is not that all important, given that you have given them good drainage to begin with.
Yes I know the books say they demand to be totally dry when dormant, but I have found this not to hold true.
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