villosa hybrids

[Fenrakk95]

I was wondering what experiences you have had with villosa hybrids regarding difficulty to grow, hardiness, speed, and conditions that work for you (not necessarily optimal). I don't expect them to be easy hybrids to grow, but they are certainly more forgiving than a pure villosa. Have you tried growing them in intermediate conditions with success, or is it completely necessary to have highland-ultrahighland temperatures?
Particularly I would like to know more about the hybrids in this list in case you own any of them or other crosses like intermediate species x villosa or lowland species x villosa.

- robcantleyi x villosa
- truncata x villosa
- ventricosa x villosa
- peltata x villosa
- veitchii x villosa

 

[hcarlton]

I don't think anyone's made a true lowland x villosa cross yet, all have been either highland or intermediate-tolerant.
I can't grow villosa itself because my conditions get too warm particularly in summer (at best the lower parts of the greenhouse are warm-highland while the higher shelves turn intermediate), so all mine clearly tolerate warmer environments. I have 3 of the ones listed and at least two of them (veitchii x and robcantleyi x) are very sturdy vigorous plants, hate root disturbance but don't really pause growing otherwise (ventricosa x villosa are all still seedlings so difficult to gauge what they really like yet). villosa x hamata however is the most vigorous presently, one of the ones not on that list, as it is the first one to have just hit vining stage. Cooler and humid conditions are going to be preferred in general for them but they will do fine in intermediate for a significant length of time if not indefinitely.