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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2008 13:38:41 GMT
Hi all,
my Eccremarcarpus still has lots of green top growth, and even a few flowers still, but the bottom is dying down. I know one's supposed to cut it down in spring - but how far down should I go? Right to the ground? Does it send up new shoots from the ground, in which case can I leave it??? Help, feeling like a complete novice here! Captain Cabbage?? Dr. Billl?? ... cheers ...
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Post by Chuckles on Feb 12, 2008 17:44:35 GMT
I reckon they are a bit on the tender side and usually treated like an annual CC. If thats the case I would guess they die down, but in a warmer areas it my well shoot back from below. Sounds to me like you could probably chop it but I'm not 100% so I'd probably wait and see if anyone has one and can tell you better  |
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Post by Jonah on Feb 12, 2008 20:48:41 GMT
Hi CC
I'm afraid I've never really touched mine, so I can't help, but I found this quote from Mr AT online:
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2008 13:44:07 GMT
Thanks for that, Jonah ;D When you say you've never really touched yours ... does it just keep doing its thing from year to year??  I think I'll play safe and cut down a few stems to the ground, but leave the most rampant ones Oh dear, I really thought I was getting the hang of things and now I feel like a complete novice/booby  ... cheers ... |
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Post by Jonah on Feb 13, 2008 22:23:38 GMT
Well I grew them from seed a couple of years ago, and they stayed sheltered in a pot the first year, I wrapped a bit of laminate floor underlay round the pot in the winter, and couldn't believe it was flowering in the snow!  I've since moved it to the garden next to a passiflora and sort of ignored it. But I peeped out of the window today, and can't see much evidence of it.  I can see some foliage tangled in the passiflora, so it's still there, but I think it's taken a bit of a battering where I have been digging my veg bed, and pulling stuff out. Might need a bit of tlc if I get the time, it's obviously in a worse state than yours!. I think you could be right, chop some down, and leave a bit alone just incase. Wonder if you can take cuttings successfully? The stems can be quite fragile. I think I've still got some seed for backup. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2008 16:01:43 GMT
Thanks for all that, Jonah ... I believe you can take cuttings, but don't know when. In fact, when it comes to Eccre-thingamy-bob, I don't seem to know very much at all ... cheers ... |
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Post by Jonah on Feb 15, 2008 19:57:01 GMT
I think half the problem is that it was always sold as an annual, well mine was, in a freebie pack of seeds on a gardening mag, so we aren't really prepared to nurse it through the winter! ;D
It definitely seems to be quite tough in my garden, but it's in a very sheltered spot by the conservatory.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2008 12:08:48 GMT
Well, it certainly doesn't seem to mind a bit of cold, although I don't seem to get frost here ... but I have read that it's a 'short-lived perennial', so will be growing a Campsis from seed this year to - eventually - take its place. Really lovely plant though, and rampant ... thanks for the advice ... cheers ...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2008 14:04:01 GMT
Thanks Jonah and Chuckles ... have just gone and done the awful deed: cut down two stems to the ground, feeling like a murderess ...the remaining stems are already showing new growth! Unfortunately, found that the seed pods - which I was hoping to save - had already 'popped' and spread their bounty; not sure if I can dry and use the remaining green ones ... cheers ... |
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Post by Jonah on Feb 24, 2008 21:11:32 GMT
Fingers crossed for you CC. I appear to have some seed left, so if it doesn't work out I'm sure I can spare a few. They've been sitting in the packet for a couple of years though. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2008 11:34:52 GMT
Thanks Jonah , but I think I still have some in the original pack ... in any event, some one said it seeds itself around, so probably that's what's happened with the 'burst' pods ... cheers ... |
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Post by nightowl on Mar 26, 2008 14:51:15 GMT
The Tresco Hybrids i grew last year all came through the winter outside in pots ok and are putting on growth well, even the ones that looked a bit weak last year  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2008 17:31:06 GMT
Yup, mines sprouting again - so I was worrying needlessly (never realised before that gardening involves so much fretting) ;D ... cheers ...
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Post by Jonah on Mar 27, 2008 21:27:00 GMT
Is it sprouting from the bottom CC? I'm wondering whether to hack mine right down, it's rather a mess!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2008 13:04:23 GMT
Well, Jonah, the old shortened stems (I cut half the stems around a foot from the ground) are shooting again, but there are no new stems shooting from the ground, if that's what you mean .... cheers ...
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Post by Jonah on Mar 28, 2008 13:07:20 GMT
Thanks CC. I think I might cut it back to about a foot then and see what happens. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2008 18:59:20 GMT
Now there's a little shoot sprouting from the bottom, too ;D ;D Did you cut yours back, Jonah? ... cheers ...
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Post by Jonah on Mar 29, 2008 23:13:37 GMT
Not yet, I'd better get a move on! ;D OH has been cutting down a tree today, so the garden was out of bounds. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2008 15:28:01 GMT
It's making huge growth again, Jonah - did you manage to cut it down yet? ... cheers ...
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Post by Jonah on Apr 4, 2008 17:58:25 GMT
I took it down to about a foot at the beginning of the week CC, I daren't look now! Fingers are crossed, but your post has reassured me somewhat. ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2008 14:21:53 GMT
Well, I'm beginning to wonder why this is called 'very tender' and 'difficult'. I went out earlier in some trepidation to see how it was coping with the cold snap - and the silly thing has a flower I grew it from seed last year, they all germinated - gave one to my One Gardening Friend, had to dump the rest - it covered a whole wall and started making a bid for the house wall - now the cut-down shoots are romping away again Now, these are the kind of 'difficult' plants I like ;D ... cheers ... |
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Post by Jonah on May 9, 2008 21:40:54 GMT
I ended up tugging mine out and moving it a couple of weeks ago. There were two stalks on it, the one showing signs of life is still doing so, and I noticed the other stalk has little bits of green stuff on it now. It's looking far healthier than the passiflora caerulea I moved at the same time.
Tough as old boots, aint it! ;D
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Post by nightowl on Jul 24, 2008 8:16:29 GMT
The Tresco Hybrids i grew last year all came through the winter outside in pots ok and are putting on growth well, even the ones that looked a bit weak last year This is a pic of just 2 of the ones I grew. Theyare in a big container with a climbing rose (which I think is still in there somewhere! ) Obviously they are very healthy! , but a few more flowers wouldn't go amiss!!  |
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... cheers ...
I've since moved it to the garden next to a passiflora and sort of ignored it. But I peeped out of the window today, and can't see much evidence of it. 
I can see some foliage tangled in the passiflora, so it's still there, but I think it's taken a bit of a battering where I have been digging my veg bed, and pulling stuff out. Might need a bit of tlc if I get the time, it's obviously in a worse state than yours!.
