What's looking exotic in May 2012

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by PeterS, May 8, 2012.

  1. sal73

    sal73 Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2011
    Messages:
    2,833
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Bedford
    Ratings:
    +3,011
    My miss almost puked by the small :mute: , the funny think I can`t leave them outdoor yet , got 2 more to flower and I`ve got more 3 giants flower on the way .
    ps got an orange hibiscus as well.
     
  2. sal73

    sal73 Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2011
    Messages:
    2,833
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Bedford
    Ratings:
    +3,011
    ps this look exotic.
    [​IMG]
     
  3. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2005
    Messages:
    52,610
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Mid Kent
    Ratings:
    +98,811
    Its only my thoughts but I cant work out how a plant such as a banana can be said to grow in such cold places.
    Bearing in mind basjoo is NOT hardy, its roots survive, but the top growth goes at the first sign of a real frost.

    So, my question is this, how would it grow and produce seed, bearing in mind its never going to reach flowering size to reproduce.

    My basjoos have been cut down for three years now by frost, and each year they get weaker and weaker shoots.

    I'm convinced basjoo comes from milder parts than the UK in general offers, and suggestions of -20C, might be survivable but hardly the best growing conditions.

    On the other hand, minus 20 with a 9 month summer could just about work.
     
  4. sal73

    sal73 Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2011
    Messages:
    2,833
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Bedford
    Ratings:
    +3,011
    Well .....that is an upsetting situation , like you say this year they had a -16 , but they have 30 at the moment .....the difference btween the normal musa and the sapporo is that the sapporo go to mash at -7 , but the question is , for how long they can support -7?
    this year I want to try one without cover and see what happen .
     
  5. PeterS

    PeterS Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2005
    Messages:
    6,662
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    N Yorks
    Ratings:
    +4,016
    Sal - I had to look up the Voodoo Lily. I presume yours is Sauromatum venosum, though I think the English name can also refer to Amorphophallis, which is what I recently bought.

    I see it is described as as a dry flower - ie doesn't neccessarily need any potting soil - presumably this is only at the flowering stage. This is like the Pleone. I had never heard of such things before - and wonder how many others there are?
     
  6. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2005
    Messages:
    52,610
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Mid Kent
    Ratings:
    +98,811
    Its surprisingly hardy Peter, I grow it outside all year.
    I dont think its Amorphophallis.
     
  7. sal73

    sal73 Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2011
    Messages:
    2,833
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Bedford
    Ratings:
    +3,011
    Yes Peters , Pete is right , it`s not an amorphophallis , got 3 of them as well , this is a Sauromatum venosum as you say , be honest with you I bought it for it`s leaves and not the flower , they told me that can survive happy outdoor , but kept it in last winter , usually it would have flowered outside , but keep indoor till now and just realise how much it stunk , my girlfriend want me to get rid off them.
    [​IMG]
    thats the leaves of it
     
  8. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2008
    Messages:
    33,060
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Surrey
    Ratings:
    +51,744
    Here's my Musa basjoo, not very exotic looking at the moment, but the first leaves have pushed through. It is outside in the ground over-winter, wrapped in loft insulation. There is another one on the right behind the cordyline. The first leaves have a bit of frost damage:
    IMG_6392.JPG
     
    • Like Like x 5
    • Kristen

      Kristen Under gardener

      Joined:
      Jul 22, 2006
      Messages:
      17,534
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Suffolk, UK
      Ratings:
      +12,669
      Those Cordy's look chipper :)

      You got any other Nana's John? I think the leaves on Basjoo are a bit weedy-looking, rather than great big strapping canoe-paddles! but my Basjoo is 1st season, so I may be being unkind to it ...
       
    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

      Joined:
      Jun 3, 2008
      Messages:
      33,060
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Surrey
      Ratings:
      +51,744
      Yes, I've got 4 Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii', 3 of which have pushed out new leaves, the other one is still dormant or dead. Also one Musa sikkimensis - Red Tiger which did not look very happy over winter (in a pot in the greenhouse), but it's just started to show some signs of life. They are all packed into my small greenhouse along with my Cannas, Dahlias and a few other tender plants.

      [​IMG]
       
      • Like Like x 4
      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

        Joined:
        Jan 9, 2005
        Messages:
        52,610
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired
        Location:
        Mid Kent
        Ratings:
        +98,811
        Basjoo is not really weedy Kristen.
        We just dont get the conditions that suit it anymore.:blue thumb:

        [​IMG]
         
        • Like Like x 3
        • sal73

          sal73 Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Sep 4, 2011
          Messages:
          2,833
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Bedford
          Ratings:
          +3,011
          Pete , nothing look more tropical then those bananas , have those been covered? or back from the roots?

          John really nice red dragon , my carmesitas are still green can`t belive yours are already red , what the plant in the right hand corner?
           
        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

          Joined:
          Jan 9, 2005
          Messages:
          52,610
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired
          Location:
          Mid Kent
          Ratings:
          +98,811
          2006 Sal, you didn't need to protect back then.
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

            Joined:
            Jun 3, 2008
            Messages:
            33,060
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Surrey
            Ratings:
            +51,744
            In the top right hand corner? It's two Ensetes's one in front of the other. The rear one just looks a bit strange because the first leaves are struggling to break free from all the dead stuff over winter, maybe I should pick off the dead stuff so the leaves emerge pristine:

            IMGP4468_Cropped.JPG
             
          • sal73

            sal73 Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Sep 4, 2011
            Messages:
            2,833
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Bedford
            Ratings:
            +3,011
            I used to have spider plants outside they used to die back and come back in spring , yucca elephantis , aeonium and dates palm , not a chance in the last 4 years .
            Pete have you got any picture of banana growing from roots at the end of the season?
            ps my first tropical border.
            [​IMG]
             
            • Like Like x 1
            Loading...

            Share This Page

            1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
              By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
              Dismiss Notice