Over the summer of 2002, Rich Sacher of American Aquatic Gardens, New Orleans LA, grew this V. 'Longwood Hybrid' in a pot 16" in diameter by 7" deep. Its pads didn't exceed 40" but it bloomed regularly.

Late in November, Rich put it in a greenhouse, unpotted and set into muck on the pond bottom. At the time Rich wondered, "Can we keep it growing through the shortest days of winter? Will it still be in good shape next spring? We will see..."

March 25, 2003

I uprooted the plant from the muck in the bottom of the pond.	You can see lots of new pink roots developing from the crown.	I had to cut off about 5 inches of rotting tuber from beneath it.
Surprisingly, the root system fit well into a 16 inch diameter pot.	I packed fertilized soil firmly around it. . .	and put it back in the pond.
If it does well, in three weeks we will move it to a 2 foot by three foot pot and put it at the New Orleans Botanic Garden for the Spring Garden Show April 12-13. That will be the earliest appearance of a Victoria ever!