What's looking Exotic in 2022

Discussion in 'Tropical Gardening' started by JWK, Jan 1, 2022.

  1. pete

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

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2005
    Messages:
    51,160
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Mid Kent
    Ratings:
    +94,142
    Nice one Nigel, mine didn't get away this year, I think it didn't like the dry weather.
     
  2. Victoria

    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2006
    Messages:
    31,478
    Occupation:
    Lady of Leisure
    Location:
    Messines, Algarve
    Ratings:
    +56,277
    Jatropha podracia really looking good this year. I can't believe it is one of my seed successes with that stunning caudex living happily in full sun next to a bamboo ...
    Jatropha podagrica1 26 Nov 22.jpg
    Jatropha poadgrica 26 Nov 22.jpg
    That is a rogue Freesia that keeps appearing as I had them in that pot a couple of years ago.
     
    • Like Like x 5
    • Victoria

      Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

      Joined:
      Jun 9, 2006
      Messages:
      31,478
      Occupation:
      Lady of Leisure
      Location:
      Messines, Algarve
      Ratings:
      +56,277
      Hmm, can't find the other thread so here is the Brugmansia with the Poinsettia colouring up ... Brug2 2 Dec 22.jpg
      Poinsettia 2 Dec 22.jpg
       
      • Like Like x 5
      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jun 3, 2008
        Messages:
        32,450
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Surrey
        Ratings:
        +49,955
        I've still got a few blooms on my brugmansias
        20221128_121952.jpg

        20221128_122055.jpg

        20221128_122026.jpg
         
        • Like Like x 4
        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

          Joined:
          Jun 3, 2008
          Messages:
          32,450
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Surrey
          Ratings:
          +49,955
          Bougainvillea
          20221124_122701.jpg

          Not really exotic but the Agapanthus is trying to flower again
          20221124_122644.jpg
           
          • Like Like x 7
          • noisette47

            noisette47 Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Jan 25, 2013
            Messages:
            6,485
            Gender:
            Female
            Location:
            Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine
            Ratings:
            +15,831
            You must have one heck of a microclimate there, JWK! I wouldn't dare leave Brugs and Bougies out in the open here at this time of year We've had a couple of ground frosts this week.....
             
            • Friendly Friendly x 1
            • Balc

              Balc Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Mar 6, 2022
              Messages:
              2,440
              Gender:
              Male
              Occupation:
              Retired
              Location:
              Huntingdon, Cambs
              Ratings:
              +9,688
              I wasn't able to keep my Crassula ovata for more than 2 years!!! It was a birthday present from a brother of mine & his wife. it eventually died this summer :sad:
               
              • Informative Informative x 1
              • Friendly Friendly x 1
              • Balc

                Balc Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Mar 6, 2022
                Messages:
                2,440
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                Huntingdon, Cambs
                Ratings:
                +9,688
                I can usually grow most plants like weeds but there are a few I seldom have any luck with. I can't keep a Lavender alive on the balcony for more than a few months! :sad:Yet plants grown from the same seed on the allotment I used to have were going strong for several years - & may still be going strong for all I know after 10 years since I planted them out.:scratch: But the few little plants I brought home died within a couple of months! :sad:
                 
                • Informative Informative x 1
                • Balc

                  Balc Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Mar 6, 2022
                  Messages:
                  2,440
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Occupation:
                  Retired
                  Location:
                  Huntingdon, Cambs
                  Ratings:
                  +9,688
                  WOW! @Victoria your Poinsettia is sooo tall! Fortunately (?) our plants grow no more than 50cm or we'd never get them in our living rooms! Your plant reminds of the one I kept growing in Spain for at least 5 years. It got too tall & leggy & it just wasn't worth the time & space (on the balconies in Spain) that I probably got rid of it. As we didn't have Internet way back then I didn't know you could prune them back & get them to remain fairly dwarf & bushier. So I never did any pruning other than cutting off the dead flowerheads each year. (This would have been in the mid 80s I think!)
                   
                  • Like Like x 2
                  • Friendly Friendly x 1
                  • Victoria

                    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

                    Joined:
                    Jun 9, 2006
                    Messages:
                    31,478
                    Occupation:
                    Lady of Leisure
                    Location:
                    Messines, Algarve
                    Ratings:
                    +56,277
                    It is cut back to about a meter every March when it has finished blooming.
                     
                    • Informative Informative x 2
                    • Like Like x 1
                    • JWK

                      JWK Gardener Staff Member

                      Joined:
                      Jun 3, 2008
                      Messages:
                      32,450
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Location:
                      Surrey
                      Ratings:
                      +49,955
                      I've never kept them outside for so long, there has been one very light frost in October. We normally have a couple of hard frosts in November.
                       
                      • Like Like x 2
                      • JWK

                        JWK Gardener Staff Member

                        Joined:
                        Jun 3, 2008
                        Messages:
                        32,450
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Location:
                        Surrey
                        Ratings:
                        +49,955
                        I could only manage to get one Brugmansia in my heated greenhouse, the rest are too big for me to lift now. First proper frost last night has likely killed them
                        20221208_100808.jpg
                         
                        • Agree Agree x 2
                        • Like Like x 1
                        • JWK

                          JWK Gardener Staff Member

                          Joined:
                          Jun 3, 2008
                          Messages:
                          32,450
                          Gender:
                          Male
                          Location:
                          Surrey
                          Ratings:
                          +49,955
                          Inside the greenhouse this morning
                          20221208_101017.jpg

                          20221208_101007.jpg

                          I've got it set at 5c minimum but last night I spent £1.50 heating it. It's going to be too expensive at that rate so I tweaked it down to 4c.

                          What sort of temperature can I get away with?

                          Most things in there should survive a bit of frost as it's dry e.g. aeoniums, bougainvillea, cannas and cycas. I think the ensete and brugmansia are the most tender.
                           
                          • Like Like x 5
                          • Informative Informative x 1
                          • pete

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

                            Joined:
                            Jan 9, 2005
                            Messages:
                            51,160
                            Gender:
                            Male
                            Occupation:
                            Retired
                            Location:
                            Mid Kent
                            Ratings:
                            +94,142
                            I've set one of mine at 3.7c which means it goes down to 2.7 before coming on.

                            The other thermostat is pretty accurate but it's not digital so I have to do a bit of trial and error with that one but aim for around 2 to 3 degrees.

                            One of my heaters has a one or two KW facility, I'm wondering if you get a better spread of temperature running it at one KW as I think when you sail that close to the wind getting cold spots could be a problem.
                            Any thoughts?
                             
                            • Like Like x 1
                            • Informative Informative x 1
                            • pete

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

                              Joined:
                              Jan 9, 2005
                              Messages:
                              51,160
                              Gender:
                              Male
                              Occupation:
                              Retired
                              Location:
                              Mid Kent
                              Ratings:
                              +94,142
                              I find canna and ginger fairly root hardy if dry in general Aeoiniums don't like any frost neither do brugs although the roots can survive.
                              Ensete seems to look for any excuse to die but I think bougainvillea can be quite hardy if dry and leafless.
                              Some varieties are probably more tender that others.
                               
                              • Informative Informative x 3
                              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