Tropical Gardening

The plants both arrived with a fantastic crown of leaves like the pictures and leaves were growing from the top. Was warned that the leaves would fall off and then re-grow from August. The first one was fine for 3 weeks so I bought the second which was much larger whose leaves went yellow and...

I have read that the trunk of the "Hawaiian Palm" is like a cactus, a water reservoir. It can therefore survive for six weeks without water. Just like a real cactus it cannot stand too much water and the trunk can rot. Watering on average once a week. First feel the earth and if it is still...

Lovely pictures LongK.I remember very well seeing it in flower with you at the Oxford Botanic Gardens. I always understood that it was a very slow growing plant, which has rather put me off. I did germinate some seeds once - but they died.Very nice to see it. I have never seen it at Kew or...

Thanks for the answers , I'll get some rose blackspot spray today . I'll also try to improve my rather intermittent feeding regime . Would an application of palm feed every 2-3 weeks be about right ?

You mentioned Echeveria earlier. We have an Echeveria thread here..............Share your Echeveria photos and chat here

@CanadianLori I have started using hickory liquid smoke instead of the expensive Kirstenbosch smoke papers. According to an article in Australasian Plant Soc journal 'Pentachondra' studies have shown it is a good substitute. I dilute the liquid to weak tea colour and soak seeds in it overnight....

I've never found Banana leaves to be particully susceptible to insecticide damage. That said, I agree, unless the pest becomes a total disaster, I'd either spray with water or just keep an eye on the problem, often nature sorts out this kind of thing. If the new leaves start to get distorted...

Know what you mean John, another plant that does the same thing is Fremontodendron, going slightly off track.I'm sure you understand why I asked if the neighbours like it. It's close to the fence, perhaps it strays over their side when in full leaf Hint hint, nudge nudge.

Poncirus has trifoliate leaves, so is easily recognisable. I think it is quite often pretty late before citrus start to make new root, I find new top growth is very possible without new roots. I grew poncirus outside for many years and new growth was earlier than this, but if the calamondin is...

How cute. I see one in the middle, green and an old one lower right. I don't have any right not but I have had it and it had flowered allot...

I impulse bought a new hobby but am a bit unsure on how to get the best results from the seeds. I grow a few cacti and succulents as house plants with nice success, and have a monster of a dragon fruit grown from seeds, but otherwise it has been zillions of years since I grew them from seeds....

Cor

I remember that John, not sure how you can get it going. One thing I do notice is Trachys seem to make a massive amount of root in very wet weather, I see it often, above ground even. Just a thought, but maybe a few months of soaking the stem might induce stronger rooting.This is at the base...

Peter it reminds me of a small mammal sitting there but with a birds beak

Peter i think so myself mate as they're showing this end...just gets the mind boggling

Pete There are a few small shoots, but so pleased that this is normal, thank you

After the first winter I only move mine when it gets arctic, the rest of the time they're outdoors

Hi @PeterS for sharing these stunning arrangments ...there's nothing like that over here

Excellent John - I look forward to hearing how they do. I believe that, for us - without the right climate, it's quite difficult to get rhizomes back into growth. I certainly killed an H. bihai rhizome that I got from Thailand.Himalayan Gardens was not expensive, but other sources on the...

Did some hacking back of the Chamaerops today, it was really overgrown and becoming infested with Ivy. Anyway, gave me a chance to have a close look, nothing suspicious was found, also revealed the trunk of the Waggie, not much chance of checking out the top, but the bottom of the trunk appears...