| Producing generous displays of flowers for most of the summer either in the greenhouse, conservatory or any convenient sunny window sill in the home, these plants have become so well known and popular they hardly need any introduction. With the minimum of skill, the foliage is almost concealed by the spectacular, disc-shaped, long-tubed blooms. Following the undoubted success of the hybrids that we offered last year, for 2010 we are offering a further selection of interesting, sought-after species and hybrids to whet your appetite. For those of you who have not tried these plants before, an Achimenes produces specialised roots known as rhizomes or tubercles, each being made up of closely packed, fleshy scales, each of which has the potential to grow into a separate plant. What we are supplying here is a rhizome or tubercle “piece” which can be planted entire just below the surface of a loose, light compost mixed with a little sand or vermiculite to assist good drainage. Alternatively, it can be very carefully split into individual “scales” and grown like any other very small tuber, keeping them warm and moist, and being careful not to over-water. The tips should be pinched out after the second pair of leaves have been formed, and fertilizer is not recommended until the stems are 4 cms. in height. Cultivation is then of the simplest. These tubercle pieces should be sown immediately on receipt to prevent their drying out. Apart from the mixture, the prices quoted are per rhizome/tubercle “piece”, the size of which will vary from variety to variety, depending on their genetic characteristics. | 
