Gunnera, how's yours doing?

Discussion in 'Other Plants' started by al n, May 29, 2013.

  1. al n

    al n Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2011
    Messages:
    1,990
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    self employed
    Location:
    wirral
    Ratings:
    +3,267
    A very pleasant, but wet, evening to one and all!

    As some of yours will know, I bought a gunnera last year, a manicata, and I have it in a pot. The pot is sealed except for a little hole so it keeps the big fella very moist. It's very slow to get going and the biggest leaf is about 6" inches, that's it!

    It gets fed with phostrogen weekly, but is still lethargic. Anything else I can do to boost its growth.

    If you have gunneras how are yours doing?

    Ta in advance for the advice and replies,

    Al.
     
  2. sal73

    sal73 Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2011
    Messages:
    2,833
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Bedford
    Ratings:
    +3,011
    Mine is about 2 feet high , it was the first plant to pop out back in March and then the weather went wrong and all the leaves start to die , I`ve tough I`ve lost the plant , but then recovered ....strange fate happen to the t-rex , start to come back in March and now I think is dead .

    you can see the leave between the reuhm and JWK musa (musa john)

    [​IMG]
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • pete

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

      Joined:
      Jan 9, 2005
      Messages:
      51,076
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired
      Location:
      Mid Kent
      Ratings:
      +93,858
      How big is the pot Al.
      Atleast 5ft across? I hope.:biggrin:
       
      • Funny Funny x 1
      • al n

        al n Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Aug 31, 2011
        Messages:
        1,990
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        self employed
        Location:
        wirral
        Ratings:
        +3,267
        Thanks sal. I'm thinking it could be a tinctoria instead of manicata.

        Pete, here's the pot, the black circular one at the rear

        [​IMG]
         
      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jun 3, 2008
        Messages:
        32,399
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Surrey
        Ratings:
        +49,826

        :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
         
      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jun 3, 2008
        Messages:
        32,399
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Surrey
        Ratings:
        +49,826
        The same thing has happened to mine. It had just started to show signs of life, a leaf bud appearing at the top of the stem but since then the frosts have killed it and the stem looks dead. I do however have new T. Rex sprouts appearing about 12" away, so all is not lost. Have a look around yours Sal in case you have some tiny T. rexs sprouting from a root, I nearly stood on mine before realising it was there :blue thumb:
         
      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jun 3, 2008
        Messages:
        32,399
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Surrey
        Ratings:
        +49,826

        Does it do OK in a pot then, I assumed, like pete I guess, they needed acres of space?
         
      • al n

        al n Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Aug 31, 2011
        Messages:
        1,990
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        self employed
        Location:
        wirral
        Ratings:
        +3,267
        It was in the ground originally, but did absolutely nowt!

        I transferred it to a pot because my soil is sandy and doesn't hold enough moisture for the likes of gunnera.

        Here she is in all her splender (pic taken a few mins ago) be amazed, be astounded, be errr something anywayz with her gigantic proportions























        [​IMG]
         
        • Like Like x 2
        • Kristen

          Kristen Under gardener

          Joined:
          Jul 22, 2006
          Messages:
          17,534
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Suffolk, UK
          Ratings:
          +12,669
          Is that Salvia Absoluticus Gigantea alongside for comparison? :heehee:
           
          • Funny Funny x 1
          • al n

            al n Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Aug 31, 2011
            Messages:
            1,990
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            self employed
            Location:
            wirral
            Ratings:
            +3,267
            Nearly right Kristen, it's salvia humongousa giganteum Jurassica-ca-ca-ca :snork:

            Here's my rheum for comparison, the flower spike is 8ft tall

            [​IMG]

            [​IMG]
             
            • Funny Funny x 1
            • joolz68

              joolz68 Total Gardener

              Joined:
              May 16, 2011
              Messages:
              4,428
              Gender:
              Female
              Location:
              alfreton uk
              Ratings:
              +5,386
              Ours is shooting up now Al :) ,its looking good,no wind or frost damage yet this year unlike my potting shed windows that now need replacing :mad:
              [​IMG]
              [​IMG]
              Also it doesnt seem to spread and i had read it is invasive:dunno:
              Hope yours kickstarts soon AL :SUNsmile:
               
              • Like Like x 5
              • al n

                al n Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Aug 31, 2011
                Messages:
                1,990
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                self employed
                Location:
                wirral
                Ratings:
                +3,267
                Ruddy Nora joolz, so THAT'S what it's supposed to look like!!! Mine is deffo the runt of the litter, more gunnera runticata than manicata. Gutted! Might bin it if it doesn't perform and get another to replace.
                 
              • Kristen

                Kristen Under gardener

                Joined:
                Jul 22, 2006
                Messages:
                17,534
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                Suffolk, UK
                Ratings:
                +12,669
                They don't get like that over night, sadly. Need to persevere for a few years IME ... so New One will take a while to get up to speed, I reckon, and perhaps by then Junior will have become Adult anyway perhaps??
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • pete

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

                  Joined:
                  Jan 9, 2005
                  Messages:
                  51,076
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Occupation:
                  Retired
                  Location:
                  Mid Kent
                  Ratings:
                  +93,858
                  I've never grown this so might be speaking out of turn.
                  I 've seen lots of it, but never in a small pot, not even a big pot.

                  Dig a big hole, pond size, line it, fill it with good spongy compost, then plant and stand back.:)
                   
                • sal73

                  sal73 Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Sep 4, 2011
                  Messages:
                  2,833
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Location:
                  Bedford
                  Ratings:
                  +3,011
                  Al is that azaleas compost? your plant need to go in the soil , shade , wet soil ....
                  the quality of your compost look like dry very easily , not good for the gunnera .
                   
                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