What's looking exotic in August 2012

Discussion in 'Tropical Gardening' started by pete, Aug 4, 2012.

  1. longk

    longk Total Gardener

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    Peter - Arisaema tortuosa has one of the longest lasting "flowers" of this great bunch of plants in my experience. Also, it seems to produce offsets readily too.
     
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    • PeterS

      PeterS Total Gardener

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      Thanks LongK. The whole aroid group are new to me and are rather fun. I have just found some seed, lying on the ground, of Arisaeme speciosum so I am going to sow them.

      Having said the above I thought I ought to have a Google and found that the plants have either male of female flowers but not both (ie dioecious) and the seeds need cold stratification - so I am now rather dubious. I don't even know if what I have found is seed or how it could be viable as I only have three plants which flowered at slightly different times.
       
    • sal73

      sal73 Total Gardener

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      Peters I`ve overwintered my vodoo lily in a pot with sand , I potted them with the seeds in November and by April I got 3 more bulbs but now I must have around 10 of then , I would say leave them and let the nature do it.
       
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      • PeterS

        PeterS Total Gardener

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        Thanks Sal - yes often nature does best - seems silly to try and germinate them at this time of the year.
         
      • Kristen

        Kristen Under gardener

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        Ensete Maurelii
        IMG_3788_EnseteMaurelii.jpg

        Canna Cleopatra:
        IMG_3806_CannaCleopatra.jpg

        Canna striata:
        IMG_3804_CannaStriata.jpg

        Ricinus: IMG_3802_Ricinus.jpg

        Canna Durban (left) and Roi Humbert (right)
        IMG_3781_Canna_Durban_RoiHumbert.jpg


        Cycas revoluta flushing :) : IMG_3776_CycasRevoluta.jpg
         
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        • Kristen

          Kristen Under gardener

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          IMG_3775_Coleus.jpg

          Coleus have filled out nicely and set-off the other plants.
           
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          • Bilbo675

            Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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            Stunning Kristen :dbgrtmb:, is the grass in the last photo an Arundo...?
             
          • longk

            longk Total Gardener

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            They are great fun, as are the reactions of some people to them! Good luck with the seed too.

            Any roads.............my Bomarea hirtella is in bloom!

            [​IMG]

            [​IMG]

            Plenty of shoots bearing buds to follow too. As the plant is just over a year old from seed my first priority this year was to bulk up the tubers, but getting it to flower has been a real bonus!

            :hapydancsmil::hapydancsmil::hapydancsmil:
             
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            • PeterS

              PeterS Total Gardener

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              Kristen - they are all looking so healthy. And that Cycas is lovely.

              Longk - I am very jealous. That Bomarea is really nice.
               
            • longk

              longk Total Gardener

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              I must admit to being rather chuffed with it! So much so that I now have my eyes on these seeds!
               
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                Datura Purple Ballerina, I've had flowers for a few weeks but only these last couple of days have they been opening fully:
                [​IMG]
                 
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                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  In the above photo, out of focus lower right is Canna Cleopatra kindy sent by pete, it's been slow to get going but is growing strongly now :dbgrtmb:
                   
                • longk

                  longk Total Gardener

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                  Excellent! I always used to struggle to get the white on that one that pure! Also, the "double" bit was often deformed when I grew them. So what's the secret?
                   
                • PeterS

                  PeterS Total Gardener

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                  LongK - that Bomarea from Strange Wonderful Things is glorious.

                  Pete's Canna Cleopatra is really excellent (thanks Pete). Whilst my other Cannas are doing badly this year, Cleopatra is growing strongly - and its so unusual and attractive as well.
                   
                • Kristen

                  Kristen Under gardener

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                  Mine flowered on Saturday - I assume its from the seed that you [JWK] sent me, many thanks, although it is labelled "Datura Double Yellow" so I'm not sure what I screwed up! I've got it in a pot still, as I didn't get around to growing it on at full-speed early in the year.

                  IMG_3943_Datura.jpg

                  IMG_3942_Datura.jpg
                   
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