New Bird Of Paradise....

I`ve seen clay pot smashed in half by the roots , yes you are right , you need a really big pot to reach that size , look at the picture with the lady , the pot is huge.

Overall I stopped myself to get one , for the simple reason that when it reach a decent size will be too heavy to move around and I don`t have a giant greenhouse as well .
Is just one of them plant that you will be sorry to let it go .....

 

Here is a picture of the Palm House at OBG where their S.nicholia lives. It got a major chop last year as it was almost to the top....................


The original image (it's not mine) is here.

 

I think you would get the effect more easily, and certainly more quickly! with a Banana. You could also grow a Travellers Palm (which I think looks similar, in the way the leave unions form on the pseudostem [if that's the right word]); I've got some seed of those on the go, if I manage to get some to germinate you are welcome to one.

 

Kristen,
I think those Ravenala probably want more tropical conditions than the Strelitzia does.

 

I think that he may have just the spot lined up for it too!

 

Yes, good point. Hopefully they can be outside during the summer?, but thinking about it that may not be a "given"

 

If anyone has a Strelitzia in flower or flowers about to open, could I trouble you to perhaps send me some pollen? I'd like to attempt to pollinate the flowers on mine when they open. I would of course pay postage and reward you with some seed if I'm lucky!

 

I have, in the past, produced seed on my plants, I'm pretty sure they are self fertile.

 

Summer??????????? wich one .

to pretty not to try .....if you do have a plan

 

Yeah, I'm going to nick that glasshouse from OBG ... and then extend it a bit

 

Kristen - that Ravenalla looks amazing - and totally new to me. I would be very interested to hear how you get on.

Where did you get the seeds? and the idea? I see them on sale on the internet quite cheaply 5 for £2.60 (inc postage). Your offer is very kind - and if you had loads I would be seriously interested. But otherwise, if your seeds germinate, I would be quite prepared to get some for myself.

I have just had another Google and see that Chilterns are doing them at £3.88 for 15 seeds + postage.

I love this forum - but its playing havoc with my original gardening plans, when I started, of bussy lizzies and French marigolds.

 

That's what I love too!
Got a couple of exotics (seeds) on their way to me from San Diego thanks to another forum. We're all very easily led astray!

 

I tried self pollinating the last one I had but no joy. I recently read an article stating that they are not self fertile and a separate clone is required.

 

eBay, I'll dig the seller's name out if you like. I think these, and Bananas have poor germination even if done perfectly. 10% germination would not be embarrassing so buying 5 seeds might give you not-very-much :( I bought 50 seeds I think, to hopefully get some to go, so as long as I get more than a couple you are welcome to one. I've got a Ginger for you too (I think it was you?? something that was discussed last Autumn; its been in the conservatory over winter and is now of a reasonable size to split some bits off).

The other place worth considering for seeds is http://www.trebrown.com/shop/bananas.php I haven't used them, but they have a good reputation for fresh seeds, and they sell in bulk and relatively cheaply - their prices make it worth considering getting 100 seeds in the hope of 10 of them growing ... (£10 / 100 Bananas, £5 / 100 for Ravenala)

Other thing is that to improve germination rates it is said that you should vary the temperature day/night ... that requires EVEN MORE faff to achieve!! - timeclock on a heatmat dedicated to Musa / Ravenala etc.

 

Oh well I might have got it wrong, but I have had seed in the past, so must have crossed them without realising it.
I cant imagine anything other than human intervention pollinating them in the UK.