Tropical help

Hi again Helen. Either you are sick of people advising you or you are pleased so many people want your 'tropical look' garden to be OK. If the former just post 'thank you - enough' or similar.

TO has the same idea as me i.e. trachies, and chamaerops but I don't know what B&Q prices are where you are but recommend waiting for a B&Q sale if they are like round here. Then you can get some great deals, otherwise, rather expensive. Same with tree ferns recommended by David (Dai). I bought one of my tree ferns at B&Q at one quarter the original price. (You can tell I'm a Yorkie can't you? Bargain!) 2 foot trunk for �£16. WOW.

I've never actually seen a trachy here at B&Q but if you can get one - fine. Again, I have loads of seedlings and if you can be bothered waiting (and nursing) send me your address and I will send you a fortunei seedling (the easiest one). But I think you want something a bit more instant.?????

 

Forgot to add. I assume, that 'full sun FROM morning' means you have full sun all day?

 

Hi John I'm a kept woman so I go on my little laptop whenever hubbie is busy doing his thing so I could be on anytime of the day or night :D Many thanks John about your advice on the phormium that does sound wonderful and just what I wanted to hear!

Thanks also Tropical Oasis not sure if I'm brave enough to try a palm are they beginner friendly?

Helen.xxx.

 

Something that I think needs to be taken into account with these kind of plants is wether or not they will get any sunshine in the winter.
Its easy going around the garden say in August or May and finding the sunny warm spots, but they become much less in Dec or Jan, just when a little bit of warmth can mean the difference between life and death.
Sorry to disagree slightly with John about the phormium, I would tend to go for the smaller growing types for a pot, mainly because although the large ones will grow to the pot size, they will tend to become pot bound much quicker and look stunted and unhappy.
Even so, regular repots will be needed.

 

Hello again John... no never can get too much advice or help for that matter and I too love a bargain although I'm not a Yorkie by birth I'm a Yellow Belly from Lincoln but have lived here in Yorkshire for nearly 30 years so maybe I'm a little Yorkie! :D
I love going to B&Q although Bob's never too keen as it means more work for the poor dear most of the time....but he likes a bargain too and will spend to save if you know what I mean and I know B&Q does do some wonderful deals just gotta catch them in time!
I know it's a waiting game with the gardening but we are looking ahead for a reasonable safe place for the future grandkids to play...although we could be way ahead of the game as our boys are 19 and 23 and show no signs of settling down yet but we will be ready for them when they do come!
Helen.xxx.

 

Thanks Pete I'm going to try "normal" size phormium plants in pots and also the dwarf ones I'ave seen on the web, if they get too big I'll give them away.
I don't think sunshine will be a problem for the plants as we do get full sun all day long on our rear garden (that's when it's out)and there's no shade even with the hedge!
Helen.xxx.

 

Hi again and good morning all. Couple of points from yesterday's comments.

Pete, I had a Phormium tenax in a large pot for 8 years. Whilst it was in the pot it looked fine but earlier this year I decided to 'give it it's head' and transplant it to garden. I must admit that once out of its pot it did look a bit weedy, but looked OK potted. It was about �£4 when I bought so I have had it as a pot plant at 50p a year. You are a purist (I can tell that by your 'cordyline' pictures) whereas I am of the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' school. Maybe I'm just lazy. (Boss lady just muttered 'No maybe about it.') :D

Helen. Most palms are easy as long as you mulch for the first few winters. The easiest is probably the C. humilis but as you may in the future want the garden for kids, then, as they have spines, I can't recommend one in your situation. Also, it grows more into a large bush rather than a tree.

You could just get a cordyline australis (I'm pretty sure that is the one known as a torquay or cornish palm) and, free planted, it should grow into something resembling a genuine palm tree. Again, ask Pete. He'll know for sure. Look at his pictures under his recent posting 'Cordylines'.

Hope this gets you a little closer to what you want but what I learned on a US forum, and is confirmed on this one, is that if you ask 20 gardeners for advice you will get 20 different, but not necessarily contradictory, replies. Great hobby ain't it? :D

 

Morning John as always you are a real gent and an angel aiding me in my gardening adventures and I'll put you good advice to the test.


Bob has brought me a few wonderful coloured grasses and I'm sure they will add to the "feel" we want although I'm going to make sure these stay in their pots :D at our old house we make the mistake of putting the grasses in the ground and it went everywhere!

I'm sure the little grasses will look good surrounding the large pots along with some large stones to "hide" the pots...do you guys agree or have you any ideas?
Helen.xxx.

 

Here are the 'little guys' we brought a few days ago, I know we are not ready for the 'big guys' yet but I just couldn't walk out of the garden centre with out getting some.


As you can see I do love a bit of funky colour with my pots and I have painted my chimney pots in purple I'm going add gold paint and gems later to them!



I have to confess when I first saw the below plant in gardens I thought it was a spider plant!


Helen.xxx.

 

Morning Helen (and all). Do you know what the grass next to the Carex is (the very tufty one). I have one but have lost it's tab.

 

Hello John you're in lucky I haven't lost the tag ....something I normally seem to do!

The tag states it's a Festuca glauca "Elijah Blue" and it cost me �£1.50 which I think is a bargain!
Helen.xxx.

 

Oooops meant to write in luck not lucky! Lol
Helen.xxx.

 

Thnx Helen. Don't want to upset you but mine cost 50p from Reighton nursery. There is a review in the relevant section. Unfortunately you probably live just too far away to make a special visit not quite worthwhile. :(

 

Hi Helofadigger, yes palms are friendly they are so easy to look after, both the tracky and chamaerops. They are the best trees in the world! making you think your on your hols all year round.

 

Don't know about your Homebase but in ours they are down to �£10 now, thats a bargain!!