Tropicals & Tender Perennials: 'Phoenix' bird or paradise, 2 by pk33635

pk33635 wrote:
Insomnia is winning tonight, so thought I'd use the time to ask you Masters another question.

Going back to the C. pulchs... I successfully managed to grow 3 from seed last spring/summer, and 2 of the 3 are doing quite well.

However, I've got one thats in the charlie brown xmas tree category. It germinated in May in a glass jar, and in my haste/excitement (pre DG membership) I plunked it into the ground--in full sun, 90+ weather-- a week later. Its alive, surprisingly, but it behaves very differently from the other 2. All summer long, it would no sooner put out a new leaf stem, and the leaves would yellow and fall off. It managed to get @ 11-12 in. tall, but as a bare twig with yellowed, sparse leaves.

Fast forward to January...the bottom of the stem started leafing out with new growth, slowly making its way up. I covered it with a pillow case for the frosts, and the new leaves all look green and healthy. Can I become confident that this little guy is getting ready to shoot up when real warmth gets here? Or, ...? I realize you may not have grown these particular plants from seed, but from the viewpoint of seedling behavior in general, what are your thoughts?

1st pic is 'charlie.' other 2 are the other seedlings from last year, all germinated within 2 weeks of each other.