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Post by oldmoleskins on Sept 19, 2006 18:26:35 GMT
I've - literally - inherited an established terracotta trough of Lewisia, and I think I've killed it in the first year - it certainly looks sad.
Is there any prescribed 'hospital' treatment for them, and has any other more careful owner any idea what I've most likely done wrong, if I replace them?
OM
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Post by madonplants on Sept 20, 2006 12:22:35 GMT
When you say it looks sad, what do you mean? Lewisia don't like rain inside their crown, so they need to be planted on an angle. I have one in a mixed trough and doing fine. I haven't watered it much at all this year except for in that really hot weather. What compost is it in? It needs to be very free draining. They like full sun with there roots kept cool. Mine is not in full sun, so it hasn't flowered as well but still doing OK. It will be placed better when that part of our new garden is sorted! They don't like too many nutrients as well. A 'very' dilute feed occasionally, and I mean occasionally. Treat them like wildflowers in a way.
Hope this helps.
Keith
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Post by oldmoleskins on Sept 20, 2006 19:06:39 GMT
Keith, thanks for that - I think you've got it with the 'wet crown' thing - I've been watering these with a wateringcan and rose - soaking them if dry.
Sounds like if I get them through the winter (in the greenhouse) then it's careful watering of the compost only, plus maybe propping the trough at an angle to maintain drainage if it rains...
OM
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2006 12:42:21 GMT
I've got one of these too - and mine is looking sort of allright - but where should it be kept over winter, outside in "full sun" (or the place where full sun will be, sometime) madonplants, or in a greenhouse, OM? It didn't flower last year.
Sounds like it might be be pressed into an opening in a wall to get the 'angled crown' thing - if facing South or SW, would that be ok?
DD.
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Post by oldmoleskins on Dec 11, 2006 21:48:09 GMT
when in doubt, do something obvious like look at Hessayon... for the first time I looked it up, and you're spot on Dillo - "it's not easy to keep alive (in the rockery)...rotting of the crown takes place... the answer is to plant sideways in a crevice in rocks or crack between bricks..."
So, in my case, overwinter in the greenhouse, then transplant somewhere sunny and vertical!
OM.
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Post by 4pygmies on Dec 11, 2006 22:08:24 GMT
I have some alpines in a home made table top bed and I'm planning to put an old caravan window over the whole lot about 6" above them. I'm hoping this means they will get sufficient ventilation but not too much damp...  It seemed like a good solution at the time - I'll let you know if they all survive the winter! |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Dec 13, 2006 19:22:06 GMT
coo... that's knobby, 4P and I'm deeply covetous of the 'real' pots and buckets and watering can too...
OM.
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Post by 4pygmies on Dec 13, 2006 19:51:33 GMT
Gerrof you! The buckets were all lying about our barn when the cows lived in it - the farmer thought they were rubbish and the can was my old Grandad's. They left some pews too......
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 13, 2006 20:42:45 GMT
Ooooooh 4P like OM I think that is knobby toooooo. Would look very at home in my garden. I love the old terracotta pots and galvanised buckets etc, Mmmmm may be sown a seed for a new thread  Got so carried away with your wonderful pic 4P, forgot to say I love Lewisia but have never had any luck growing them for more than a season  |
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Post by madonplants on Dec 13, 2006 23:10:44 GMT
I've got one of these too - and mine is looking sort of allright - but where should it be kept over winter, outside in "full sun" (or the place where full sun will be, sometime) madonplants, or in a greenhouse, OM? It didn't flower last year. Sounds like it might be be pressed into an opening in a wall to get the 'angled crown' thing - if facing South or SW, would that be ok? DD. Sorry, not been around much as I have just lost my father in law and had hand foot and mouth disease, thanks son!! My lewisia I have in my trough, still facing north, is still doing OK and it is a baby of a baby of one I had growing in a rockery, 12 years ago and has been moved from house to house. That is 8 moves!! For the past 3 years the final baby has been in the trough, before just in a pot with it's parent. The parent was given away to a neighbour. I have done nothing special, other than keeping it well drained and on a slope. One year I put the pot into the coldframe for winter, but that was probably more, me being over cautious, than anything else. In the trough it is on a slope against two rocks, so there are really no secrets. Maybe I have been lucky. When it's parent was in the rockery it was in a similar position to how it is now, just in the open ground rather than a trough. As long as rain (or water from watering can) does not settle in the crown things should be OK. Hope this helps and sorry for being late. Keith |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Aug 27, 2007 11:48:45 GMT
Have a terrible confession to make... as it apeared to revive, my trough of lewisia was just left to its own devices, though propped on its side for the whole year, in a feeble attempt to provide the 'planted in a crack in the wall' circs deemed best.
If I promise to take more notice of members' good advice this time, as I'm now back to square one - a very sorry trough of four plants on their last legs - I feel inclined to repot individually and keep in the greenhouse for a few months.
What compost mix, what degree of drainage in the pots, would anyone more caring advise...?
OM.
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Post by Weeterrier on Aug 27, 2007 18:03:21 GMT
Hi OM. Lewisias are perfectly hardy, so shouldn't need to be taken indoors in the winter. As long as the water can drain freely from the crown you should be fine. If you cannot find them a crevice, you can make a little wire frame for them with an old coathanger, and perch a pane of glass on top. I have seen them doing well planted up in the sides of a hanging basket.
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Post by bagpuss on Aug 28, 2007 12:36:29 GMT
I have my Lewisia planted in with succulents in a long wooden trough. The mix I used was 50:50 compost and (Cornish) grit, with a dressing of grit on the top, so that they don't sit directly on top of wet/damp soil when it has rained. I also drilled LOTS of drainage holes in the bottom too.
I also, don't bother to water it at all. Any water it gets is when it is raining.
I hope that helps.
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Post by oldmoleskins on Aug 28, 2007 13:17:30 GMT
cheers, WeeT and Bagpuss... I just went out and plunged a finger into the trough and it's very wet in there, despite drainage holes and a very 'close' compost too...
So, combining your collective instruction, I'll replace the compost with a more open gritty mix, and treat 'em mean. One less thing for the GH, then.
OM.
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Post by oldmoleskins on May 12, 2008 19:58:47 GMT
Here you go, then, split into seperate pots set at a jaunty angle, this is the best of them now:  They are very forgiving little plants... OM. |
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Post by Weeterrier on May 13, 2008 7:26:16 GMT
Well done OM. a lesser man would have binned them. You have been justly rewarded for your efforts. ;D
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Post by grannyjanny on May 13, 2008 20:35:19 GMT
My friend has hers planted on top of a wall in house bricks. They've been there for years.
Janet.
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