Exotics

[Rosefriend]

Well if I try and save it, I have no where to plant the Musa.

One thing I have thought of and that is - could these shrubs have been over fertilized? My neighbour uses 2/3 bags of high powered fertilizer each year and I wonder if he has inadvertently thrown a load onto my side, as all the the shrubs that are affected are on that side of the garden.

Hopefully the others will recover next year.

RF

[Cheerypeabrain]

I'm thinking of bringing in or wrapping my tender plants over the weekend...and doing my bi-annual Jeye's Fluid disinfecting of the GH....already taken the colocasia pots into the GH to dry out before they go into the garage over the winter. I may pop a large, straw filled plastic pot over the gunnera too as it's quite young. I'm a bit worried about the echium pininana...it's in quite a sheltered spot but is far too big to wrap.

[Tig]

Thanks for the 'nod' CPB - I will try and get my stuff sorted this weekend, although I am going to feel mighty cruel chopping the leaves off my nanas

I have no idea what I'm going to do with the Brug

I'm thinking of putting the tree fern under the big holly bush, hoping it will cuddle it through the winter

x Tig

[Cheerypeabrain]

eek! forgot about my brugmansia! ...it hasn't flowered but has grown quite large and I'm sure that if I can see it through the winter it should next year....
This will be the first time Bruce (tree fern) has been left out at the mercy of the elements....I shall be getting through sooooooo much straw it isn't real....

[Tig]

I have done some hacking at the nanas, I feel so mean, the leaves are really fleshy and wet, I hope rot doesn't set in They were holding water in the middle, so I have done my best to empty the crowns - quite a lot of earwigs were in them hiding too

I've called my tree fern Wazza ;D I was 'found' by a new Australian 'cousin' at the end of last year so it was named after him. I meant to buy some straw today and forgot

I don't know if I will succeed in trying to keep the ginger either, but it is going in the garage from tonight as it is forecast to be very chilly later.

[Cheerypeabrain]

I'm worried about our musa atm.....it's a howling gale outside and I still haven't got any straw to do our winter-wrapping!!! the leaves are shredded as the plant almost as tall as the shed...it has 2 tall offsets as well. We generally cut the trunk off a few inches below the lowest leaf.

[Cheerypeabrain]

and the Brugmansia has a huge bud on it....

[andy]

All tucked up for the winter now !!!

[Rosefriend]

Oooo well done Andy - they certainly look healthy and happy!!

My Musa is still in the tub and will have to stay there I think. The spot that I had planned in the garden isn't big enough I am afraid.

RF

[Rosefriend]

What is happening to my Fatsia??

It is packed up for winter - well apart from the fleece which isn't far away and I went onto the terrace this morning and saw that it is flowering.

Is this normal??



RF

[andy]

yep...mine's in full flower RF....i think the flowers are scented too !!!

[Ruthie]

Mine usually flowers beautifully but I'm a bit concerned this year as the flower buds are looking a bit brown and I feel they should be opening now. I think they may have got the frost

[Cheerypeabrain]

My Brugmansia has some beautiful flowers on it atm...it's in the (unheated) GH out of the frost, but what do I do with it over winter? do I trim it back? if so, how much? It's in a 20" pot.

[Chuckles]

Nov 8, 2008 19:40:42 GMT Cheerypeabrain said:

My Brugmansia has some beautiful flowers on it atm...it's in the (unheated) GH out of the frost, but what do I do with it over winter? do I trim it back? if so, how much? It's in a 20" pot.

FB's the man for Brugs CPB, he has them and I'm sure he'll sort you out

Saying that I don't reckon he comes over into Greenhouse Chat so I'll quote this message into the Brugmansia thread in Beds and Borders, he's posted on it so may have it Bookmarked

[farmersboy]

Nov 10, 2008 14:19:13 GMT Chuckles said:

Nov 8, 2008 19:40:42 GMT Cheerypeabrain said:

My Brugmansia has some beautiful flowers on it atm...it's in the (unheated) GH out of the frost, but what do I do with it over winter? do I trim it back? if so, how much? It's in a 20" pot.

FB's the man for Brugs CPB, he has them and I'm sure he'll sort you out

Saying that I don't reckon he comes over into Greenhouse Chat so I'll quote this message into the Brugmansia thread in Beds and Borders, he's posted on it so may have it Bookmarked

Your right Chuckles,havent got a g h,so i dont come on here,but i do on the Brug thread

[Tig]

I'm having another of those 'OMG what have I done' moments

I had to rescue a beschorneria yuccoides this afternoon - it looked a little bit sad and lonely (and it was half price)

There are no 'destructions' with it, it isn't in any of my books, and googling wasn't that much help - one site said it was OK down to -7 c, another said -2c

I think the best place for it will be in my south facing front garden, dry, free draining soil - but it will get some chilly days and nights. Any thoughts from those in the know please

x Tig

[Dutchy]

Lovely plant Tig but indeed hard to find good information.
I did some copy and paste for you and hope this helps.

Beschorneria yuccoides
Otherwise known as The Triffid to its friends, this highly unusual plant from Mexico shows off its amazing flower spikes in spring. Red and green fuchsia like flowers eventually emerge from the thick stems.

Beschorneria yuccoides
Mexican Lily
This plant from the Agave family is found in high altitude pine-oak forests in central and eastern Mexico to 3500 m (11500 ft.). It grows a large, suckering rosette of soft, arching, keeled, blue-green leaves to 10 cm (4 in.) wide. The reddish inflorescence has a lily-like appearance. B. yuccoides can be grown in a wide variety of climates though it does not like the tropics. It is quite cold hardy and can take severe freezes without damage.


Cultivation:Plant inside in full light in cactus compost. Water when in growth and fertilse montly with a balaced liquid feed. Can also be grown outside in milder climates, but will require protection from frosts.
Awards:RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Suggested uses:Architectural, City, Drought Tolerant, Foliage only, Low Maintenance, Sub-Tropical
Soil types:Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage:Well-drained
Soil pH:Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light:Full Sun
Aspect:South, West
Exposure:Sheltered
Hardiness:Tender in frost (H3)

Specific pest(s):Scale insects
Propagation method(s):Offsets, Seed
Skill rating:Beginner
Maintenance hours / year:1

Hardiness 3 should tell you how much minus it can really take but I could not find the hardiness site

[Tig]

Thanks Dutchy - front garden it is then (it won't be getting cactus compost though!) - maybe a little bit of extra grit when its planted and some fleece this winter if we have severe frosts, until it settles into its new home and gets its feet warm

x Tig

[andy]

Rosefriend....how are those exotics bearing up in Germany ?...has the cold hit you yet ? My Basjoos that are outside have collapsed but my Fatsia is in full flower and looking good.

How's it with you ?.

[Rosefriend]

Hi Andy - I have just been out and taken some pics and come back in shivering with minus 5 out there.

We had about 8 inches of snow on Saturday and have about half left I would say - we keep getting the odd shower still.

Right here is the Passiflora - upright at least.



This pathetic looking thing is the Fatsia - it has obviously decided to let it's leaves droop.



and this is the Musa Basjoo. It must be a good place for it at the back of the shed and the snow has helped to keep it warm with the fleece and bamboo but it is still upright would you believe.



I can't believe that I am going to get these through the winter to be honest.

RF

[andy]

Ye of little faith...i wouldn't of bothered covering the fatsia up. Even back in the good old days of the 70's and 80's when we had proper winters, thet grew quite happily in the parks with a wind chill of minus 25c and an ambient temp of minus 10c !!!

If it was me (i know im in a different position as i get the plants for free), i'd get some of each of the above in spring and grow them unprotected through next winter just to see if things will come through.
The passiflora are easy enough to grow from cuttings and the Basjoo should throw up some suckers. Fatsias can be bought small and grown on for just a couple of pounds (euros ?)...try it next year, i think you'll be amaized.

[Rosefriend]

Well if you say so - I will take the fleece off the Fatsia and the only part of the Musa that is covered really is the pot and I will leave the Passiflora and get some cuttings next year and plant those and see what happens.

Fatsia's are not so cheap here as they are considered to be good houseplants and they are sold mostly when they have reached a decent size. I shall have a look though. I have a 65litre pot that I think 3 Fatsia's would look very good in - mind you I am not sure where I am going to put it.

If we get more than minus 10 shall I cover the Fatsia up again?

RF

[Dutchy]

Rosefriend I missed your earlier post on the Fatsia.

One. Yes it is from the other hemisphere and always flowers into early winter, silly thing thinks Summer begins.

And two. In with Andy.
Thing is we call our Fatsia our frost-o-meter. The moment it gets below zero it droops its leaves towards its stem. It is its way of self protection.

Try to let at least one of the wedges survive in a wind sheltered, shady spot without fleece.
Thus the major problems of leaves drying out or getting damaged by sudden warmth from the sun are taken care of.
Don't cover it up at all. It should withstand minus 20.
Watering is the problem so try to keep the pot slightly warmer ( bubble wrap) and remember to give some water on the warmest days.

As for the big one you bought.
That probably never sat outside so hardening it off will take some time.
To be safe cover that one at minus 10 but uncover once temps go warmer than that.

My Fatsia ( aka mummy of doorwedges) is a) flowering and b) drooping its leaves.
It may not set seed this year but it will survive.

[dierama]

HI - I grew the same ensete as you last February. Three of 5 germinated, one was a bit 'stumpy' in shape and two are now overwintering in the greenhouse at a height of around 4ft. The seed seemed to need to be wet & warm. I also grew tender plants Rhodochiton (can be grown in a hanging basket), Anthericum Saundersiae, Tulbaghia (various), Datura (I am waiting for their seed to ripen), Cetranthus and Dipcadi Serotinum (like a pale orange bluebell) also (hope the spelling is right!). Like my general gardening I like the challenge of having something in flower all year round and at the moment I have numerous pots of Shamrock Pea plants in flower in the greenhouse. They love it in there so long as they are damp. I also grow spicy lettuce varieties in pots as well, they should be ready to pick the leaves in February and last through until around April. I was very lucky to have my neighbours greenhouse free and it is 6' X 8'.

It has definitely changed what I am able to grow and expanded my gardening interests.

Happy gardening and experimenting!

Marilyn

[Tig]

Well done Dierama - you seem to have managed to grow a good selection of plants from seed. I have some Datura (ballerina) to sow for next year as an 'experiment'

I've just been in the garage - looks like my Ethiopian nana has bitten the dust it has all gone brown and the soil in the pot had frozen! The red one is just about hanging in there

x Tig

[Tig]

Now look what you've gone and made me do

I've bought a little lemon 'bush' - I say bush because it has been harshly pruned and roughly wired on to a frame - but is has a main stem that is over 1" thick and even the side stems are over half an inch diameter. It was outside a fruit and veg shop in the icy wind, it had to be done, it would have been cruel to leave it there, and the man in the shop let me have it for £3 (probably because it will die within the week )

I have cleaned the leaves with tepid water as they were mud splashed, I didn't know lemons had thorns (a scratched hand to repay for my efforts!)

Any advice on how to try and improve its chances of survival gratefully received.

x Tig

[andy]

Citrus are evil Tig...covered in thorns !!!!

Right, i used to look after the orangery at work and i loved it. Citrus love sun...lots of it and if that's behind glass, so much the better. They will withstand fairly low temperatures in winter....just frost free but will take all the heat and sun you can throw at it in summer.

They like to be dried out a bit in between watering...if i remember correctly, someone told me that they leave the orange groves until they're bone dry in countries where they're grown and then, they just open a valve and flood the valley every so often.

They will need feeding too and you can buy special citrus feed which is higher in one element than the others that they need.....spring to autum with the feed though, not in winter.

Keep an eye out for pests, those tough leaves don't fool the bugs !!!! Red spider mite, mealey bug and scale can all be serious problems if not kept in check.

Hope that helps a bit

[Tig]

Thanks Andy, that helps a lot I'll look out for some citrus feed next time I go the GC.

Something else for the bruddy red spider mite to munch on then

For some reason I never thought of them as thorny plants, are all citrus thorny, even oranges?

x Tig

[Ladygardener]

Good luck with your Lemon bush Tig. I'm really surprised to know they've got thorns too. I've seent hem growing while on holidays but only through the glass in a bus.

[Rosefriend]

The question here is:-

We are in for minus 16-20 degC on Mon/Tues .....so do I cover my Fatsia up or not??

RF