Tropical Gardening

Spring is the best time to prune it and you can chop it back by a good third.Now it the time to take cuttings for propagating which, to my mind, means that you could cut back some of the soft growth to tidy it up a bit. Problem with that is, of course, you would lose out on their beautiful...

Thanks Anthony - I don't know that one.Strongy, I have had a Columnea and Aeschynanthus, but I killed both of them (actually I still have one sick Aeschynanthus just hanging on. I suspect that I have been overwatering things over winter.I try not to water too much, but I recently read a...

That's an amazing picture of T. usneoides. I also saw them in Orlando some years ago on trees round a swimming pool. Very interesting about how sensitive they are to humidity levels. It must make it pretty hit or miss growing them in the UK, unless you spend a lot of time misting them.

With the size of root ball needed to make sure it lives would be too heavy to lift, forget selling it, it's not something that can be put in the back of a car. You could cut it down to ground level but new shoots will eventually replace it.

Polypodium polypodioidesA really nice epiphytic fern.I saw quite a few clumps that looked dead. But did a bit of reading, and apparently, with a bit of rain, they will revive.

Yes, my money's on pepino. The flowers are Solanaceae. Persimmon, as others have said, is a small tree with nondescript flowers and 4 prominent sepals. I used to live in China and my neighbours had one that shed spent flowers over the wall.

Lovely photos, @longk! Um, observant is my middle name @shiney, just so long as they don't look like what you eat at your local Mexican I'm going to have a go at one of the Taccas, the other one and the Habenaria are for a friend. I potted them up for her...she's on her own now Thanks again for...

i think it is John. i've left 3 ensettes out all winter, the biggest one 3 years old also, and they have survived. pushing up new rollers as we speak. it has been mild, although very wet, and we have had quite a few frosts too.

Yup. Any banana growing in an exposed site looks manky.

I just feed mine, when I think about it, on a balanced plant feed with trace elements. Usually add some osmocote when repotting.

?? Never was fluent in Gibberish

Yep, @Anthony Rogers , that is why I said "there also is" so @IceColdRum could see other house plants also. Some are mine. and its a longer thread.

Thank you both

Like Pete I've grown S.punicea successfully by overwintering in a cool greenhouse and pretty dry (ie - dormant) but the white form of S.grandiflora didn't make it under the same conditions. I will try again (I still have seed) but in a cool room with a bit of humidity.

Nice tree. I don't think I'd have had the courage to do it

I dont think Cats Claw should survive our winters. not quite sure I want something that quite invasive, we have a fence I would like something spikey and flowering that could stand sun and shade and our winters. I know thats asking a lot .

Sarracenia are very tolerant of cold conditions if the crown is dry, many don't appreciate being cold and wet. The best place for them is an unheated greenhouse.I used to have an extensive collection many years ago but I had to sell on. All being well I will be installing a couple of...

Chamaerops humulis ?

Apparently you can make them fruit at any time, within reason of course, by introducing ethylene gas. Ripe bananas, apples etc. give off this gas.

Hi Pete - up near Blackburn. Fire me a pm and I'll send you details Cheers Ben