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Post by mickthecactus on Nov 9, 2006 13:25:36 GMT
What an amazing plant this is. It must be the cockroach of the plant world - the only thing to withstand a nuclear holocaust.
I went to Livepool Street by train and was amazed to see it absolutely everywhere, on the lines and growing out of innumerable walls. How does it germinate and then survive, particularly in the walls? Mind you, it shows how little upkeep there is of the railway tracks now.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2006 14:32:09 GMT
Mick, you should come to Dublin - I have a huge one growing out of my back wall, which has so far resisted hot vinegar, repeated cutting back and anything else I can dream up to throw at it ... it's now due for an application of Root Out, thanks to advice on the board. It sprouts up between paving stones, grows out of gutters, happily establishes itself in gravel. A beautiful plant, but when you've spent a weeding session trying to get rid of it the beauty pales somewhat ... cheers ...
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Post by mickthecactus on Nov 9, 2006 14:50:57 GMT
Hot vinegar?
Why?
P.S. Been to Dublin may times. Might be there next summer
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 9, 2006 15:04:12 GMT
Hot vinegar is one of the best weed killers of all time. Just make sure that it gets deep enough and also that nothing is in it's way.
Sorry I do actually use the hard stuff - two weed killers together that would kill a tree if necessary but I always tell people it is vinegar - just a problem when they don't smell the real vinegar smell.
I am amazed that Buddleia's are like this because I have lost two already that I really wanted to keep just by moving them - they don't like it - well mine don't anyway................
I have never seen Buddleia growing the way that you both describe, so I can only assume that the weather has something to do with it.
Rosefriend
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Post by mickthecactus on Nov 9, 2006 15:10:03 GMT
Rosefriend don't kill the week - I need all the time I can get!
I didn't know that about vinegar - learnt something new today.
I think that it is more down to the variety rather than the weather. Somewhere along the line it must have hybridised into this monster that can grow anywhere in any conditions.
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 9, 2006 15:15:49 GMT
Sorry about the week - I changed it as soon as I saw it................
Vinegar - learnt very quickly here as a lot of people only use organic products.
Well I wish mine would grow into a monster - having said that my garden isn't big enough for one really.......
Rosefriend
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2006 15:20:59 GMT
Actually, Rosefriend, my wall monster does look very pretty in flower, but a vertical crack has appeared in the brickwork just where the main stem is - hence the annihilation measures. Incidentally, I'm not sure that it has hybridised - it seems to be the bog standard purple version, and has been a weed in Dublin for as long as I can remember. Obviously just likes very poor growing conditions - so that might be the answer to getting them to thrive. Plant it in gravel, sand, a bit of old rubble and away you go! ... cheers ...
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 9, 2006 15:25:07 GMT
Hi CC - well it could be the answer - I have spent years getting a good soil in the garden - normal soil here is sandy - waste of time for the things that I like to grow.
Next door neighbour has lousy soil - perhaps I can mix a bit in by the Buddleia's..........
I think that we are going back to the situation that so many of us have encountered - tons of loving care can kill a plant - let them do their own thing and they tend to survive with vigour.
Rosefriend
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2006 19:26:21 GMT
Not surprised about the masses of it in the East End of London. It was the one plant that survived the London Blitz, the H.E.'s must have blown it all over the place (it must have been bl**** fireproof as well).
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 9, 2006 19:34:45 GMT
Blimey - I think that I need to start learning more about these plants.
We are talking about the davidii arn't we? Or is it the alternifolia or which one?
I don't suppose anyone has a photo of these monsters have they? I think I have missed out on something.........
Rosefriend
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Post by Dutchy on Nov 10, 2006 8:15:04 GMT
I seem to have missed something about Buddleia too Rosefriend.
Perhaps the continental variety is a weeker one. Mine die by simply being planted in my garden. I have a white one in a pot now but winter hasn't started yet.....
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 10, 2006 10:30:14 GMT
Well Dutchy I am pleased that someone has backed me up - I felt a bit alone....
I find it so simple to kill them off - I have lost 4 already - all davidii and a alternifolia that a cold winter killed off.
One in a pot - oh dear Dutchy - definately a case for the Last Rites - that will never make it - can't you put it in the cellar, - or send it over to the UK - it will probably thrive.....we are obviously doing something wrong on this side of the water........
Rosefriend
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2006 12:03:40 GMT
Rosefriend and Dutchy ... I need to get new batteries for my camera, but will go out next week and photograph a couple of these monsters for you. In the meantime, there's a close-up of the flowers on my wall monster on my garden pic thread (beginner's garden); they are definitely davidii. The one beside our local library would probably be a good specimen to photograph - at least 12 feet tall and wide, and still growing! I can well believe they survived the Blitz! ... cheers ...
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 11, 2006 8:40:59 GMT
Thanks CC - I am looking forward to the pics.
I really don't understand how -if they are all davidii - that they are basically a plague in England, and Dutchy and I can kill them just by looking at them.......
Rosefriend
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2006 14:29:04 GMT
Dutchy and I can kill them just by looking at them....... Rosefriend Rosefriend, I wish I could borrow your and Dutchy's Buddleia-killing glances ;D! ... cheers ... |
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 12, 2006 7:41:05 GMT
No Problem CC - I will let you know when I come over to the UK and I can make a quick trip over the water and have a look at your Buddleia's ...........
Blimey - I bet you've never had an offer like that before have you??
Rosefriend
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Post by torontotrini on Nov 12, 2006 12:14:29 GMT
What I've found about buddleia is that they do pop up all over once you have a one well established. I guess the birds carry the seeds around. I've seen the house sparrows picking away at the flowerheads. But once they get past the seedling stage, they do not like being moved. They really struggle when you move them; probably because it is so difficult to get a good root ball. Their roots are long and you always seem to break a few when you move them, and the soil just doesn't hold together around the roots. I've heard that you can get cuttings from them to grow, but I've never had any succes with that. If I want one in a particular spot, I buy one from the nursery put it where I want it and leave it there. After a year or two I start seeing seedlings popping up in all kinds of unlikely places around the garden. If I want any others, then I move the seedlings or just take them out and compost them.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2006 12:49:08 GMT
Rosefriend, you could make a fortune here ;D "The Buddleia-killing lady will be in Dublin next week. Make sure to book now" ... seriously, I'm sorry you and Dutchy have had such trouble growing them; there's nothing more frustrating than trying to grow something which just folds up and dies  ... cheers ... |
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 12, 2006 15:40:02 GMT
Well I will tell you all something else about my Buddleia's - I do have two established ones in the garden and in Spring the first thing I do is see if they are still alive, - however I have never had seedlings in my garden and neither have my neighbours........
Things seem to be very different here don't they?
Rosefriend
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Post by Dutchy on Nov 12, 2006 16:51:17 GMT
I will wear my sunglasses when dealing with my buddleia in pot from now on. It might help. ;D
Wherever I have lived I have never had seedlings. Now my mother who is a very tidy gardener ( In that she tells the lady who does her garden to remove all non flowering things ) constantly has seedlings coming up by her garden wall, next to the house. Sandy and warm soil is the trick I think. It might not be Rosefriends or my stare but the wet of our soil. There is a bed of Buddleia in a municipal bit of ground that is right next to a garden wall that is doing really well. Not monstrously so though. But definitely coping.
As for the one in a pot.... well when I plant it in the garden it will die anyhow so I'll see. When frost is predicted I will put fleece over it and see what happens.
Dutchy
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 15, 2006 19:31:18 GMT
Hi Canarycreeper
Did you manage to get the photos of the monsters then? I would love to see them.... I have no doubt that Dutchy and I will be extremely envious........
Rosefriend
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2006 20:40:46 GMT
Just makes you realise that the saying a weed is just a plant in the wrong place is true doesn't. We can't kill them, other people tend them & they still die. Actually the deeper colours are not so rampant with us
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Post by mickthecactus on Nov 16, 2006 8:40:02 GMT
I see on the BBC Gardening Board that somebody has a problem with a buddleia between a wall and concrete patio.
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 16, 2006 8:43:03 GMT
I see on the BBC Gardening Board that somebody has a problem with a buddleia between a wall and concrete patio. I don't believe all of this - I fight like hell to keep mine alive, never get any seedlings and some people have a job with a buddleia sprouting out of concrete - incredible.... Rosefriend |
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Post by Dutchy on Nov 17, 2006 9:34:05 GMT
Would you like me and Rosefriend to have a stare at it?
Between us we might be able to kill it. ;D
Dutchy
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 18, 2006 8:57:53 GMT
Shall we start up a business Dutchy - a bit different anyway - The Buddleia Killers.
Actually once you have killed the first one the others are easy arn't they?
Rosefriend
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2006 14:18:47 GMT
Hi Rosefriend and Dutchy - it turned out not to be the batteries but a fault in the camera, hence no pictures. BTW, I love the thought of you setting up as wekillbuddleias.org! Cheers ...
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 19, 2006 16:05:10 GMT
Well as I don't want to give up on this - is there anyone else that can show me these monsters please - pics please?
Rosefriend
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Post by Dutchy on Nov 20, 2006 16:22:29 GMT
Well as I don't want to give up on this - is there anyone else that can show me these monsters please - pics please? Rosefriend Yes I want to see pics too. I want to know what we are up against  Dutchy |
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Post by Dutchy on Nov 20, 2006 16:24:37 GMT
Duchy you are welcome to come and give the Buddleia a killing look any time you like! I dont think you would like Birmingham as much as I like Amsterdam though  That, of course, includes you Rosefriend ! ;D ;D Ah, but I want to see that giant shiny metal slug of yours for real some day  Dutchy |
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... cheers ...