Victoria greenhouse

In this greenhouse, ambient temperature is near to 20°C in winter, but it can easily rise up to 45°C in summer. Inside the basins, pipes allow having 24°C water from early February to late April, in order to promote tropical aquatic plants cuttings recovery and Victoria cruziana sowings. This plant behaves like an annual one. When the seeds have germinated, the most vigorous seedling is planted out in the basin, where it will quickly grow.

Water lilies are plants needing a rich substratum like loam with organic manure addition. Diurnal Nymphaea flowers bloom with the sun, in the middle of the morning. Each flower can open and close for 4 to 5 days on end. Nocturnal Nymphaea show their highest beauty at 8:00 am. And close down near 9:30 am. According to the sun intensity.

Victoria cruziana's leaves can have a more than 1.50-meter diameter. Each flower lasts only one day but as many annual plants, Victoria cruziana flowers a lot (50 to 60 flowers are produced each summer) and fructifies quite easily. The seeds are harvested from late summer.

The yellow-flowered shrubs are Allamanda, from Apocynaceae family (like periwinkle or Adenium). As for the numerous aerials roots colonising the greenhouse, it belongs to Cissus sycioides (Vitaceae family)

In this greenhouse, heat is precious, that's why since the middle of September each year, the door has to remain closed. A button allows getting rid of the vapour on the windows in order to go on observing the different plants cycles.